Stenson ends wretched week with a flourish

Golf | European Tour

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European money leader Henrik Stenson says his right wrist is "100 percent" as he plots a strong end to his season after carding a 65 to finish a disappointing BMW Masters with a flourish.
The world No 4, staying in Shanghai for this week's WGC-HSBC Champions, is in pole position in the Race to Dubai – the European money list – with just a handful of high-profile events left in the season.

The Swede, who won the US PGA Tour's FedEx Cup last month, was languishing in joint 57th spot after a third-round 79 at the Lake Malaran course. But a seven-under-par final round left him in good spirits for the tough challenges ahead.

The 37-year-old, who has enjoyed a remarkable return to the pinnacle of world golf after slipping outside the top 200, arrived in China with his painful wrist taped.
He admitted he was almost ready "to throw in the towel" last Tuesday and was only able to play after intensive treatment, but is delighted to have gained momentum going into the $8.5 million WGC-HSBC Champions.

"Finishing on a high after some good play on the last day helps. We all know what I am trying to achieve in these weeks," he told AFP.

"I got most of the bad shots out of the way yesterday," he said, speaking of his dismal third round.
"I dumped three in the water and had one lost ball on the last eight holes. You know it's kind of tough when the ball's not floating," he joked.

His final round could have been even better but for dropping a shot at the treacherous 18th hole to finish at two over for the tournament, 13 shots behind Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano of Spain.
"A bogey at the last from the fairway today was disappointing. But we'll save the birdie at the last for when I really need it," he said.

The injury set back Stenson's preparations for the "Final Series" events on the European Tour featuring the BMW Masters, WGC-HSBC Champions at the Sheshan International Golf Club, Turkish Airlines Open and the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
"I came off four weeks without a tournament," said Stenson. "And I was going to work here pretty hard on Monday afternoon, Tuesday, Wednesday. But I didn't hit a shot Monday or Tuesday and managed to get out in the pro-am on Wednesday.

"Took a couple of days to get going with the long game."
Stenson said he was now off the painkillers and anti-inflammatories. "I've stopped the pills. I'm icing it every day and getting treatment on it.
"It's 100 percent now, just in the back of my mind. Trusting it might only be 97."