Shanghai hosting red-hot Stenson

Henrik Stenson is one of the hottest players in international golf.

The 37-year-old Swede, whose calm demeanor on the course belies a wicked sense of humor, is enjoying a fine run that has produced top results at a number of prestigious tournaments this season.

The icing on his cake came at the end of September when he won the TOUR Championship to claim his second PGA TOUR playoff title and win the FedExCup.

Oh yes - he also pocketed a cool $11.2 million for that double triumph.

Just two years after dropping outside the world's top 200, Stenson is now regarded as one of golf's biggest stars. He'll tee off at the BMW Masters (Oct 24-27) at Shanghai's Lake Malaren Golf Club as part of a truly world-class field that also includes fellow Swede and defending champion Peter Hanson, world No 6 Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), former world No 1 Lee Westwood (England), Graeme McDowell (Northern Ireland), Ian Poulter (England) and local favorite Wu Ashun (China).

The event kicks off the European Tour's new Final Series.

"I am very much looking forward to the BMW Masters, just as I do every BMW tournament," said Stenson.

"In June, I enjoyed a great week in Munich, where the BMW International Open celebrated its 25th anniversary. In September, I was able to defend my place in the top five of the FedExCup at the BMW Championship in Chicago, which laid the foundation for my triumph in Atlanta.

"I think it is excellent that we now have a kind of playoff feel on the European Tour, in the form of the Final Series. And I obviously hope I can continue where I left off at the playoffs on the PGA TOUR."

Stenson's success since July has been phenomenal: runner-up at the Open Championship, tied for second at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, third at the PGA Championship, and wins at the Deutsche Bank Championship and TOUR Championship.

It's been a long road back for the Swede, whose world ranking fell to 224 at the start of last year - making the emphatic way he won the PGA TOUR even more impressive.

Stenson ended the season with 4,750 points, giving him a lead of 2,007 over world No 1 Tiger Woods. He is also leading the Race to Dubai.

"The Final Series is obviously next on the horizon," said Stenson. "I can take a bit of a break now, before I head out to the BMW Masters.

"I am in a great position to win the Race to Dubai. Justin (Rose) and Graeme (McDowell) are chasing me down there, so it's going to take some good play. I'm going to try my hardest to accomplish that.

"No one's ever won both the FedExCup and the Race to Dubai so, of course, I'm going to give it my best shot."

(China Daily 10/12/2013 page15)