Decisiveness on par 5s payed off for Henrik Stenson at 2018 Masters

Henrik Stenson is finally making a positive appearance in the Masters Tournament record books.

The Swede had never finished better than tied for 14th coming into last year. Worse, he had the dubious distinction of having the worst score in tournament history on two holes (Nos. 4 and 18, both with 8s).

Stenson, though, managed to shoot four rounds under par at Augusta National and record his best finish with a tie for 5th.

His success can be traced back to 2017, when he missed the Masters cut for the fourth time in his career. He said he learned a few things about Augusta National in those rounds of 77 and 75.

“I went home and felt like OK, at least we figured out a few things there to make it better,” he said. “We’ll try to build on the momentum that we picked up last year.”

Stenson did just that with an opening 69 that was followed by three consecutive rounds of 70. It made him part of the group of players who have completed four rounds under par without winning the Masters.

“I think I played a little more aggressive on a few holes off the tee and just kind of was more decisive on some of the par-5s, where to leave it,” he said.

Stenson, who won the 2016 British Open, said that strategy reigns supreme at Augusta National.

“Personally, I always find it hard to stand on a second shot into a par-5 where there is a chance to hit it in the right spot, but the margins are so slim you try to miss a green on purpose,” he said. “Or leave it in a bunker on purpose. There’s certain pin positions you just have to have an angle and a bit of green to work with. It’s more important to do that than actually hit the green.”

An example is the second shot into the par-5 second hole. It requires a downhill shot and if a player is trying to run it onto the green, he must navigate a narrow opening between two greenside bunkers.

“So instead of taking a 5-wood you’re taking a 3-iron and blasting it short down in front of the right-hand bunker,” he said. “It just kind of feels wrong, but in a way it’s the right thing to do. Around there, on a few occasions, you’ve got to take the tactical decision and some others you’ve got to take your chances and roll the dice a little bit.”

Now making his 14th Masters appearance, Stenson knows that good shots can turn into great shots and mediocre ones can get punished at Augusta National. At a normal event, if he has a comfortable yardage, he might play more aggressive. If not, he’ll play conservative. But “that doesn’t really exist at Augusta,” he said.

“There’s not really much payout for almost a good shot around there,” he said. “You’re either in the right place and hit a good shot. The one that’s normally 20-25 feet for birdie, that one ends up 40-50 feet and the same place as a bad shot. It’s all a little boom or bust around Augusta.”

Another reason for Stenson’s success last year was his putting. He only had one 3-putt in 72 holes.

“You’ve got to clean up well around the holes,” Stenson said. “It’s the tricky part compared to any other week, because of the speed and the slope, you’ve got a foot and a half of break on a 7-footer. You’ve got to spend time dialing that in before you go there. I managed to do that last year and I felt pretty good and it paid off.”