Stenson Victorious in Deutsche Bank Championship


Though he got off to a rocky start with a bogey on the second hole, Henrik Stenson rebounded nicely with six birdies the rest of the way for a 5-under 66 and a two-stroke victory in the Deutsche Bank Championship. The second of four events in the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup Playoffs had a Labor Day finish at TPC Boston in Norton, Mass.

The 37-year-old Swede finished at 22-under 262, two strokes ahead of Wisconsin's Steve Stricker, who closed with a 67, and four ahead of Canada's Graham DeLaet, who shot a 69.

"I played better in the final round," Stenson said at greenside. "Kind of got off to a rough start but I birdied 4, 5 and 6 . . . hit a lot of fairways and greens."

Stenson has been close to the winner's circle all year. In 15 starts he's logged six top-10s, including three runners-up. "It's all about being in contention. My goal was to win a tournament after all these nice finishes," added Stenson, whose 22-under total matched the tournament scoring record at TPC Boston.

The victory, worth $1.44 million and 2,500 FedEx Cup points, was his third on the PGA Tour. His earlier titles came in the 2007 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship and 2009 Players Championship.

The Deutsche Bank title also gave Stenson a 14-point lead over Tiger Woods midway through the Playoffs. The third leg of the season-ending series resumes in two weeks at the BMW Championship at Conway Farms Golf Club in Lake Forest, Ill.

Sharing fourth at 267 were three Americans and a Spaniard. Jordan Spieth carded Monday's low round, a 9-under 62, to reach that 72-hole total with fellow Yanks Matt Kuchar (66) and Kevin Stadler (68).

The stellar outing by Spieth - who by taking the John Deere Classic in July became the first teenager in 80 years to win on the PGA Tour - involved four birdies on the front nine for a 4-under 32. It was capped by three birdies and an eagle on the last four holes for a 5-under 30 on the home half.

"I've never finished birdie, birdie, birdie, eagle before," the now-20-year-old Texan told PGATour.com. "It's definitely the best round I've ever played in my life."

Also at 267 was Sergio Garcia, who began the final round with a two-stroke lead. But on Monday the 33-year-old closed with a 2-over 73 to drop into fourth.

Alone in eighth at 16-under 268 was England's Brian Davis (67), while another stroke back were Zimbabwe's Brendon de Jonge (66), England's Ian Poulter (69) and Americans Jason Dufner and Roberto Castro, who both shot even-par 71s.

After opening with rounds of 68 and 67, Woods closed with a 72 and 73 to end up tied for 65th at 4-under 280. On Monday he had two birdies against four bogeys; on the day he hit only 11 greens in regulation and needed a whopping 32 putts.

"It wasn't my week," he told PGATour.com. "I didn't play well and didn't make anything."

Defending champion Rory McIlroy also had a disappointing day. After charging up the leaderboard with a 7-under 64 on Sunday for his low round of the year, the 24-year-old Northern Irishman closed with a 72.

McIlroy will also enter the BMW as the defending champion. He won last year at Crooked Stick in Indiana by going 20-under par; that title was his latest on the PGA Tour.

Only the top-70 players move on to the BMW at Conway Farms. For updated FedEx Cup Playoffs standings, visit http://www.pgatour.com/fedexcup/projected-standings.html.

For all the scores in the Deutsche Bank Championship, visit http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html.