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 Last year, the 38-year-old romped to a six-stroke victory at
Dubai’s Earth course that also saw him top the European money list,
capping a stellar year in which he also won the U.S. PGA Tour's
end-of-season FedExCup.
Stenson has yet to win a tournament this year, but if his final
round in Belek is anything to go by, he may be finding form at just
the right time.
Stenson bagged nine birdies, including four in his last six holes,
for a closing 64 and third place at the Turkish Airlines Open.
“I struggled on the greens the first three days ... (but) it gives
the confidence a little boost ,” Stenson told reporters.
“I was putting nicely and I would love to bring some of that
momentum in here this week.”
A member of Europe's Ryder Cup winning team, he was also runner-up
at the Volvo World Match Play Championship in October and third at
the U.S. PGA Championship in August.
“I was battling a bit of fatigue and when you're in a bad spell,
you're tired, you don't have the energy to practise and get going.
Then it becomes a bad cycle,” said Stenson.
World number one Rory McIlroy is guaranteed top spot on the 2014
European money list after his nearest rivals failed to win in
Turkey, but the rest of the top places are up for grabs.
The leading 15 players will split a $5 million bonus pool.
Stenson is second, narrowly ahead of Wales’ Jamie Donaldson,
Germany’s Marcel Siem and Spain’s Sergio Garcia.
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Stenson has reduced his schedule from 31 tournaments last year to 28
in 2014 and plans to play only 26 next year.
“I found a good rhythm ... giving myself breaks for rest and
practise and gym work,” said the world number four. “I had a great
formula from 2012 and into 2013. Then I slipped out of that a little
bit.”
Stenson said it was vital to be in perfect shape coming into the
peak of golf’s season from March to August.
“If you're not feeling reasonably fresh and practiced, then you're
trying to catch up throughout that whole period,” said the Swede,
who became a father for a third time last month.
“That's what I was this year and I don't want to be the same next
year,” added Stenson, who plans to take a five-week break before
starting his 2015 season at Abu Dhabi’s HSBC Golf Championship in
January.
(Editing by Peter Rutherford)
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