SINGAPORE RECAP: STENSON CAN'T BELIEVE MAJESTICKS' GC STRUGGLE
SINGAPORE – Co-Captain Henrik Stenson was categorical in his assessment that Majesticks GC needed to improve dramatically on all aspects of their game after a second straight 13th-place finish in two weeks at LIV Golf Singapore.
“We are trying our best, but it is incredible how all four of us are struggling with our games together,” said Stenson, who finished solo 44th at 1-over total.
“To do well in LIV Golf as a team, you want all your four players playing well…certainly on the Sunday and even on the first two days so that you have a bit of a cushion. That’s not happening with us.”
Co-Captain Ian Poulter was the best placed among the Majesticks, finishing tied 35th at 2-under par. It was an improvement from last week’s tied 52nd in Adelaide, but on a course where he is a past champion (2009 Barclays Singapore Open), he definitely expected better.
On Sunday, Poulter closed his round with an eagle on the par-5 fourth hole, but that came only after a double-bogey 6 on the third hole. He had another double bogey and four bogeys in a round of 2-over 73. Given the hard yards he had put in after his Adelaide finish, Stenson felt he deserved better.
“Nothing is obviously working at the moment, but when you are down there, we have all done what needs to be done in the past. Through our long careers, we know the form can go up and down. We have got a month off now to be better prepared and be in better shape. And that’s all you can do when it’s not going your way,” added the 2016 Open champion.
“I can’t tell you about the team, but I feel the only way I can support them right now is by playing better personally. But as I said, we have done this all our life. We have all experienced the highs and the lows. We will get over it.”
Stenson’s own stats would suggest he is hitting the ball well. Placed 35th in the individual standings, he is 3rd in fairways hit at 64% and 13th in greens in regulations at 13.05 per round. His biggest issue has been putting, and after being rank last in Adelaide with 98 putts in three rounds, he was tied 53rd with teammate Sam Horsfield in Singapore with 99 putts.
“I feel I am masking it a little bit on the course. My proximity is not that great and I am not giving myself good looks at birdies,” said the Swede.
“I hit lots of greens, but I managed to hit a couple of them close on the second day, and nothing else. But I am kind of fighting the feelings. Obviously, you always want to make one or two putts, but I’ve missed so many of them. Last week was not good enough in Australia, and I struggled with the grain here more than anything else even though I felt like I hit better putts this week.”
Stenson is now 35th in the Individual Standings with 11.08 points.
After the disappointing outing in Adelaide, there were shades of Poulter’s old self throughout the three rounds, but it wasn’t enough. He started the tournament with two straight birdies, and then ended with three birdies and an eagle in his last five holes, but that also included a double. The tied 35th place did not earn him any points and he dropped to 37th place in the Individual Standings with 9.22 points.
Horsfield finished tied 47th at 3-over, with his Sunday round of 70 his best. He tied Stenson for the bottom of the Average Putts category with 33 for each round.
Westwood seemed the most solid of the lot after successive rounds of 71, but a 75 dropped him to tied 49th place at 4-over.
STAT REVIEW
Field ranking in parentheses
Fairways Hit
Poulter – 24 (T29)
Stenson – 28 (T10)
Horsfield – 27 (T12)
Westwood – 20 (T46)
Greens in Regulation
Poulter – 37 (T32)
Stenson – 43 (4)
Horsfield – 41 (T7)
Westwood – 37 (T32)
Total Putts
Poulter – 88 (T29)
Stenson – 99 (T53)
Horsfield – 99 (T53)
Westwood – 97 (T50)
Total Birdies
Poulter – 12 (T26)
Stenson – 8 (T47)
Horsfield – 10 (T37)
Westwood – 8 (T47)
Driving Distance Avg.
Poulter – 285.0 (51)
Stenson – 293.5 (39)
Horsfield – 303.7 (25)
Westwood – 290.7 (45)