Capelle On Golf

The PLAYERS champion Henrik Stenson once had the driver yips so bad his off-the-world tee shots made Tiger Woods look like Jim Furyk. Now, according to Hank Haney, the driver yips are all but impossible to cure, but Stenson did it.

Two years and a half years ago Stenson coaxed the renowned caddy Fanny Sunneson out of retirement. Sunneson, who was on Nick Faldo’s bag for four of his six majors, has had a calming effect on Stenson, and the pair now have three wins since combining forces.

Last season Stenson finished 3t at the British Open, then 4t at the PGA, both won by Padraig Harrington. So what does he do? He starts seeing Dr. Bob Rotella, Harrington’s long time sports psychologist. And presto, a super impressive win on a big stage with the eerie precision and cool that makes you think this could be the start of something big.

Over the last couple of seasons, Stenson has shown a tendency to run very hot or very cold. For example, in 2009 his best finishes are a 2t, 3, 3t, and a W. He’s also finished MC, 33t, 77t, 38t, 52t. While some prize consistency, the next best tendency for a win oriented player is to run cold and hot. And Stenson, who hit 26 of 28 fairways over the weekend and shot a bogey free 66 on Sunday, looks to be the kind of player who can be scary good when he’s on his game.

Stenson acknowledged that the process of winning The PLAYERS is like that of winning a major, though it isn’t one. So, is Stenson now a major player? Will his win at The PLAYERS serve as a springboard to greater heights? If history is a guide, he will win zero or one major. The list shows those who won The PLAYERS first, then a solitary major.

The PLAYERS as a Springboard to a Major (Players win, then first major)
Hal Sutton – 1983 – 1983
Fred Couples – 1984 – 1991
Tom Kite – 1989 – 1992
Steve Elkington – 1991 – 1995
Davis Love III – 1992 – 1997
David Duval – 1999 – 2001

Prior to 2000, four players won the event, but never a major. Since 2000, six players have won The PLAYERS, but not a major including Craig Perks, Adam Scott, Fred Funk, Stephen Ames, Sergio Garcia, and now Stenson. I wouldn’t bet on the first four winning a big one, but Garcia and Stenson’s chances look excellent. They’ve got experience, game, youth, and have proven they can contend in majors.

Though Garcia’s been a bit off his game of late thanks in part to his recent breakup with Megan Norman, he can draw on positive memories of his 4t at Bethpage in 2002 and his big 2008 season. And when Stenson gets hot, the new #5 player in the WGR has the game and now the mind now to win big events, maybe even a real major. And, should he win one of the last three majors, he will join Jack Nicklaus (1978), Hal Sutton (1983), and Tiger Woods (2001) as the only players to win a PLAYERS/major combo.

In 38 days we’ll see how these two hungry tigers fare against the real Tiger, Phil and company on Bethpage Black, a course that seems made for their style of play.