Henrik Stenson Wins 5.2 Billion Jackpot Instead of Ryder Cup Captain Role

LIV Golf 3rd Event Wire-to-Wire Victory

Henrik Stenson is kissing the trophy after winning the individual competition on the final day of the LIV Golf Invitational 3rd event held in Bedminster, New Jersey, USA. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Nowrae Noh] Henrik Stenson hit the jackpot of $4 million (approximately 5.218 billion KRW) at the LIV Golf Invitational, sponsored by Saudi Arabian capital. He achieved victory in his first LIV Golf tournament, having given up the captaincy of the European Ryder Cup team.

On the 1st (Korean time), Stenson recorded a 2-under-par 69 with three birdies and one bogey in the final round of the third LIV Golf event held at Trump National Golf Club (par 71) in Bedminster, New Jersey, USA. With a total score of 11-under-par 202, Stenson edged out the joint second-place group, including Matthew Wolff and Dustin Johnson (both from the USA), who finished at 9-under-par 204, by two strokes to claim the championship. This was a wire-to-wire victory, as he never relinquished the lead throughout the three days.

Stenson is a veteran with six PGA Tour wins and 11 DP World Tour victories. Earlier in March, he was appointed captain of the European Ryder Cup team, but changed his mind after four months and joined LIV Golf. It is reported that he received a contract worth about $50 million, and upon joining LIV, he was dismissed from his Ryder Cup captaincy.

Although he lost the honor of being Ryder Cup captain, he secured a huge sum by winning his first LIV tournament. The $4 million prize is more than double the $1,549,590 he earned from his only major victory, the 2016 Open Championship.

Henrik Stenson clenched his fist after sinking a putt on the 17th hole during the final round of the LIV Golf Invitational held in Bedminster, New Jersey, USA. Photo by Yonhap News

Starting the third round with a three-stroke lead over Dustin Johnson, who was in second place, Stenson birdied the first hole (par 4) and shaved another stroke at the fifth hole (par 4). He added another birdie at the 14th hole (par 3). Except for a bogey on the 15th hole (par 5), his performance was flawless. Maintaining the gap with the second-place group, he parred all remaining holes to secure the win.

However, by winning the first tournament he played after joining LIV, he hit the jackpot. The $4 million prize is more than double the $1,549,590 he earned from the 2016 Open Championship, his only major victory.

Until the previous day, Stenson was three strokes ahead of second-place Johnson. He birdied the first hole (par 4), shaved another stroke at the fifth hole (par 4), added a birdie at the 14th hole (par 3), and made the only bogey of the day at the 15th hole (par 5). He then maintained the gap with the second-place group and parred all remaining holes to confirm his victory.

In the team event, the "Four Aces" team, consisting of world number one Johnson, Patrick Reed, Taylor Gooch, and Pat Perez (all from the USA), won with a combined score of 25-under-par. They claimed the championship for the second consecutive time following last month's second event and earned a prize of $3 million.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.