Stenson Honored by European Golf Writers


Henrik Stenson has been named the recipient of the 2013 Golf Writers Trophy, an award that goes to the year's top golfer who was born or lives in Europe. The award is presented by the Association of Golf Writers, a group of scribes based in Europe.

The 37-year-old Swede was honored for becoming the first player to win the FedEx Cup on the PGA Tour and the Race to Dubai (the season money-list title) on the European Tour. He won three times in 2013, all toward the end of the year in the Deutsche Bank Championship and Tour Championship - both in America in September, and the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.

He topped the annual vote despite fierce competition from Justin Rose, the first Englishman in 43 years to win the U.S. Open, and the European Solheim Cup team, who made history by winning on American soil for the first time.

"I'm looking forward to getting a few of these trophies I've won into the summer house in Sweden," said Stenson, whose primary place of residence is Lake Nona in Orlando, Fla.

"It has been such a great year that I can have a few in Europe and a few in my house in America," he added. "What a great thrill it is going to be over Christmas to sit by the fire with my family and take stock of the season, look at trophies such as this one and reflect on the year of my life."

Stenson received two-thirds of the vote by the AGW members. "I think when you look at what others achieved like Justin and the Solheim Cup team it does make it mean that little bit more," Stenson said on the association's website. "It's a huge honor and a great reflection on the year I had.

"It has been such a great year that I can have a few (trophies) in Europe and a few in my house in America! What a great thrill it is going to be over Christmas to sit by the fire with my family and take stock of the season, look at trophies such as this one and reflect on the year of my life.

"I have always had a very good relationship with the media. I have tried to be accommodating and taken my time to give decent and honest responses. I think I have been treated very fairly by the media guys, too. It is a give-and-take relationship and I've always understood that. I appreciate their support for what I've managed to accomplish."

Stenson becomes the first male Swedish golfer to win the award; Annika Sorenstam received it twice, in 2003 and '05. The other candidates this year included Charley Hull, Graeme McDowell, Thomas Bjorn, Suzann Pettersen, Caroline Hedwall, Ian Poulter, Andrea Pavan, and Victor Dubuisson.

For more about the Association of Golf Writers and the full announcement of Stenson's award, visit http://www.agwgolf.org/pages.php/index.html.