Iceman Unscripped
Golf Digest Middle East|January 2019

Henrik Stenson has recorded six top10s in his 13 Abu Dhabi starts including twice finishing runner-up on The National course. He talks to Kent Gray about finally sealing the missing leg of his personal Desert Swing slam and what it will take to win a second major.

Kent Gray
Iceman Unscripped

HENRIK STENSON BARELY NEEDS THE PAIR of question-posing middlemen sitting in on this, his last interview of the 2017-18 European Tour season. We’re in a plush members’ lounge at The Els Club on the day after the DP World Tour Championship and the tanned Swede, fresh from a T-12 performance at Jumeirah Golf Estates, has not long finished playing with three fortunate amateurs in watchmaker Audemars Piguet’s annual Dubai golf day. This is last stop in the golf interview equivalent of speed dating with the equally jaded local media corps before Stenson can clock off for the off-season, even if it was a ridiculously short break as he went on from Dubai to finish fourth at Tiger’s bash in the Bahamas before contending again in the Indonesian Masters and eventually settling for another solo fourth placing.

With his famously dry sense of humour, the ‘Iceman’, is a favourite among the media, naturally engaging and eminently quotable. He knows how to play the game and remembers the media are merely a conduit to the fans, so has fun knowing his message will be reflected thus.

He’s also adept, it seems, at giving with little prompt. After the requisite exchange of pleasantries, Stenson eases into a leather sofa and begins talking, essentially interviewing himself for much of the next fascinating 25 minutes and 20 seconds. We know the time exactly as it is recorded on our dictaphones. We can also assure you the majority of the 4505 words spoken belong to the former Open champion and have the transcribe to prove it.

Denne historien er fra January 2019-utgaven av Golf Digest Middle East.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra January 2019-utgaven av Golf Digest Middle East.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA GOLF DIGEST MIDDLE EASTSe alt
Tempting Entrée
Golf Digest Middle East

Tempting Entrée

INDUSTRY IDENTITIES AND A FORMER SIX NATIONS STAR AMONG THE BIG NAMES ROLLED OUT FOR THE EAGL’S SUMMER DRESS-REHEARSAL

time-read
3 mins  |
June 2021
Golf Digest Middle East

Year of the Comeback

Tour pros of all ages are rediscovering their mojo

time-read
4 mins  |
June 2021
THE GOLF STAYCATION PERFECTED
Golf Digest Middle East

THE GOLF STAYCATION PERFECTED

Golf Digest Middle East’s inaugural Play & Stay is coming to Radisson Dubai DAMAC Hills and Trump Dubai

time-read
2 mins  |
June 2021
THE GENIUS OF JORDAN
Golf Digest Middle East

THE GENIUS OF JORDAN

HE WANTED A CONFIDENT, RELIABLE SWING. HE FOUND IT IN A CLEVER WAY

time-read
5 mins  |
June 2021
The Starter
Golf Digest Middle East

The Starter

The Nairn Golf Club

time-read
1 min  |
June 2021
Undercover Caddie
Golf Digest Middle East

Undercover Caddie

Think you could carry a 40-pound bag for a living?

time-read
4 mins  |
June 2021
DRIVE BLAST PUTT
Golf Digest Middle East

DRIVE BLAST PUTT

THREE WAYS TO RAISE YOUR GAME

time-read
2 mins  |
June 2021
Get Set - Ball-striking success starts at address
Golf Digest Middle East

Get Set - Ball-striking success starts at address

AMATEURS OFTEN STAND OVER THE BALL with their feet too wide apart. I understand the appeal—they want to feel more stable throughout the swing, and a wider stance seems a logical way to achieve that.

time-read
4 mins  |
June 2021
Take 5
Golf Digest Middle East

Take 5

It’s hot but that’s no excuse not to warm-up before every round and range session

time-read
2 mins  |
June 2021
Classic Closer
Golf Digest Middle East

Classic Closer

Our monthly guide to taming the region’s stroke index 1 holes has gone off-piste. Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club professional Matthew Brookes heads to arguably the toughest finishing hole in Middle East golf

time-read
2 mins  |
June 2021