Henrik Stenson Takes Deutsche Bank Championship

Written by Michael Hardman:

He's called the "Terminator" for a reason.

Henrik Stenson took apart the field in the final round of the Deutsche Bank Championship, shooting a 66 to finished 22 under to win the Deutsche Bank Championship at TPC-Boston in Norton Monday. Steve Strickler was second at 20-under.

With the victory, Stenson also moved into the No. 1 spot in the FedEx Cup playoffs going into the third round outside of Chicago in two weeks.

Stenson started the day behind Sergio Garcia by two strokes, but by the end of the first nine holes, which included a two-hour weather delay, the Swedish golfer was in first place and on his way to the victory.  Garcia had a 39 on the front nine and faded after Stenson shot a 33. He followed that up with a 33 on the back nine.

After getting off to a slow start playing with Garcia and Graham DeLaet, Stenson birded the fourth, fifth, sixth and eighth holes before the sirens sound stopping play because of the thunderstorms.

"We all dropped a couple of shots early," he said. " I guess I was the one that bounced back the best with some nice putts and some shots."

Second place finisher Steve Stickler, who was playing in the group in front of Stenson, tried to overtake him, but as he was approaching the final hole he knew that wasn't going to happen.

As he was walking up to the 18th hole, he heard the crowd screaming behind him as Stenson knocked in out of the bunker on 17. After that, he knew he was settling for second place.

"I didn't say anything," said the 46-year-old Stickler. "I just kind of rolled my eyes. He's been knocking at the door for a couple of months and playing some great golf.

"You don't think it is going to happen to you when a guy holes out of the bunker, but I was still a couple of shots back at the time."

Even Stenson wasn't counting on the bunker shot going in. When he swung the club, he was just hoping for a short putt.

"I just played it perfectly," he said. "It was a nice bonus (and) it made 18 a whole lot easier with that extra cushion. It I would have bogeyed it, the air might have been a bit thinner coming up the last (hole)."

After leading after second and third rounds, Garcia struggled for his entire round, finishing with a two over par 73.

"I just wasn't comfortable," he said. "I wasn't able to trust myself as I did in the first few days."

It hasn't always been easy on the course for Stenson, who has gone through two major slumps in 2001-02 and in 2011. He knew what his friend Garcia was going though.

The two talked through out their round.

"It's always tough to lose when you're leading," said Stenson. " That happens. It's part of the game. We've all been there and it will come back."

While he was the "Terminator" on the course, Stenson showed his generous side. He announced he was talking some of his $1,400,000 winnings and making a donation to the "One Fund."

"We are all wearing a ribbon today and this week," he said. "I just felt like if I had a nice day today I wanted to give something back."