Henrik Stenson victorious in LIV Golf debut at Bedminster

7/31/2022 8:17:54 PM EST

Henrik Stenson of Sweden held on to capture the LIV Golf Invitational Bedminster by two shots Sunday in Bedminster, N.J.

The 46-year-old Stenson turned back the clock to win his debut on the LIV Golf Invitational Series at 11-under-par 202. After an opening-round 64, Stenson shot back-to-back 69s to hold off the field at Trump National Bedminster.

Stenson beat Matthew Wolff (final-round 64) and Dustin Johnson (68) by two shots. Mexico's Carlos Ortiz (68) was fourth at 8 under and Patrick Reed (69) placed fifth at 7 under.

Stenson was stripped of his captaincy for the European Ryder Cup team this month as a consequence of joining the Saudi-funded LIV series, which aims to compete with the PGA and DP World Tours.

"I guess we can agree," Stenson told the LIV broadcast, "I played like a captain."

Stenson's last professional victory came nearly five years ago at the PGA Tour's Wyndham Championship in August 2017.

"It's been a good first week, obviously. Nice to be here with the guys and getting a feel for it," Stenson said. "It's been a busy 10 days and I'm extremely proud that I managed to focus as well as I did. It was a bit wobbly coming home. We haven't finished the deal in a couple of years with any wins, so it's always a little added pressure when you're up in contention."

LIV utilizes a scramble format that allows all players to be on the course simultaneously, but as the overnight leader, Stenson began his round at the first hole and finished at No. 18. He birdied the par-4 first and fifth holes and added a third birdie at the par-3 14th before his lone bogey at the par-5 15th.

Stenson made a par save at the par-4 17th hole that he called "massive to keep the cushion coming up the last."

Wolff's bogey-free 64 was the round of the day, highlighted by an eagle 2 at No. 10. He drove the green at the short par 4 and sank a short eagle putt. He added five birdies, including a chip-in at No. 17.

Stenson's victory wasn't enough to lift his team, Majesticks GC, to the team victory. Instead, 4 Aces GC ran away with the team title thanks to captain Johnson, Reed, Talor Gooch and Pat Perez combining to shoot 25 under par. Majesticks were a distant second, as captain Lee Westwood of England, Stenson and Englishmen Ian Poulter and Sam Horsfield combined to go 17 under.

--Field Level Media

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