With all the hub-bub about Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, and Jason Day, everyone seems to forget about how good Henrik Stenson is.
Stenson won the Race to Dubai for the second time in four years, and also won the Open Championship, his first Major title. On Wednesday he was named European Tour Golfer of the Year for the second time in his career.
Stenson had one of the most epic finishes in Open history, firing a final-round 63 . That tied for the lowest final round in Major history. He broke the record for the lowest winning score in Major history, a 20-under 264. He just missed making it two enormous feats in a row, taking the silver medal at the Summer Olympics in Rio.
Stenson also won two points for the losing Euro Ryder Cup team, defeating Spieth 3&2 in his best match. He won the Race to Dubai by a huge margin: 870,316 points.
“It has certainly been the best season of my career and to now be voted the European Tour Golfer of the Year for a second time is a fantastic way to bring the curtain down on it,” said Stenson. “To win the Claret Jug, a silver medal at the Olympics, the Race to Dubai and now this means 2016 was a very special year for me, and I am very proud of what I have achieved.
“There have been some great golfers who have won this award, and many more who just missed out over the years, so to receive it twice now is a huge honour. You can argue that my consistency was a touch higher in 2013, but in 2016 I produced my best performances at key moments, so it will go down as the best year I have had and this award is a very nice way to end it.”