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GOLF

Stenson strikes gold at world’s richest tournament

Swede Henrik Stenson used precision off the tee to set up a commanding four-stroke victory at the world's richest tournament, the $9.5 million Players Championship on Sunday.

Stenson strikes gold at world's richest tournament

Stenson, who started the day five strokes behind, parred the first six holes before storming home with six birdies to card a bogey-free six-under-par 66 at the punishing Sawgrass TPC.

He finished at 12-under 276, collecting $1.71 million for his seventh professional victory, his second in the United States.

Englishman Ian Poulter (70) claimed second place on eight-under, with Americans John Mallinger and Kevin Na another shot behind in a tie for third.

German Alex Cejka, who started the day with a record five-stroke lead, crumbled with a 79 to tie for ninth, a distant eight strokes back.

Accurate driving was the key to Stenson’s victory. He left his driver in the bag on all except one occasion, using his trusty three-wood to hit 13 of 14 fairways.

“It’s a course I really enjoy playing,” Stenson said. “It suits my game. I like to hit my three-wood a lot and I had my ball in great position today and it’s easy to play from there.

“I haven’t analyzed it yet, but it’s definitely one of the best final rounds I’ve done.

“I handled myself well these four days, putted well and stayed level-headed. Obviously it’s a great feeling to have won this championship.

“To hold off such a strong field is going to give me a lot of confidence going into the majors.”

He is the third European to win the flagship event on the United States PGA Tour, joining Spaniard Sergio Garcia (last year) and Scot Sandy Lyle (1987).

And Poulter made it a 1-2 European finish by winning the race for second place.

“I was pleased with how I finished the tournament off and my hat’s off to Henrik for putting his foot down and disappearing,” said Poulter, who was also runner-up at last year’s British Open, where Stenson tied for third with Greg Norman.

Stenson opened a three-shot lead when he birdied the par-three 13th and was four clear by time he got to the 17th tee.

However, no player can plan a victory speech until he finds dry land at the famous island green par-three, and Stenson spent considerable time on the tee before safely finding the putting surface.

Only then could he relax, and enjoy his victory march.

The 33-year-old Dubai-based Stenson came into the event ranked ninth in the world, so he was hardly a dark horse, but nor was he a name on everyone’s lips.

But he is now, after walking away with the richest tournament in golf.

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FOOTBALL

Tennis courts and golf courses to reopen in Denmark

Danes will be able to take up their tennis rackets and golf clubs again after the country's two biggest sports associations announced that outdoor sports with no physical contact can resume again.

Tennis courts and golf courses to reopen in Denmark
Tennis will be one of the first sports to restart. Photo: Søren Bidstrup/Ritzau Scanpix
The Sports Confederation of Denmark and the country's other sports association DGI announced that they had agreed new guidelines for restarting group sports with the Danish Health Authority, in a press release issued on Tuesday. 
 
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“This is the first sign of sport opening up, and we are really pleased that the health authorities have given us guidelines so that some activities can start up again,” Charlotte Bach Thomassen, chair of the Danish sports association DGI, said. 
 
“Of course, joining together in sports clubs must be safe from a  health point of view, so it is important to be aware that in many sports associations you will not be able to meet physically.” 
 
 
DIF chairman Niels Nygaard told Ritzau that the announcement did not mean any organisation would be required to restart activities they did not regard as safe. 
 
“These are voluntary associations where there are differences from association to association and sport to sport,” he said. “Our recommendations are not a requirement for associations to start activities. They can do it if it can be done under safe conditions, and if they have doubts about whether it can be done, then they shouldn't do it.”
 
According to the joint press release, group sports can now restart if: 
 
  • they take place outside 
  • participants can keep a distance of two meters from others
  • participants pay special attention to hand hygiene
  • rackets, clubs or other props are frequently cleaned
  • participants cough or sneeze into your elbow or a paper towel
  • participants stay home if they have a fever, cough or muscle soreness. 
  • shared facilities such as clubhouses and dressing and shower facilities are not used 
 
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