ATLANTA - Henrik Stenson knows better than most players how it feels to go from the depths of a slump to the elite in golf.
He’s done it twice now.
And the second time was sweeter - and richer - than ever.
Not even among the top 200 players in the world two years ago, Stenson capped off the best three months of his career with a command performance Sunday in the Tour Championship. With a birdie to thwart a late charge by Jordan Spieth, followed by three pars from the sand, the 37-year-old Swede closed with a 2-under 68 on Sunday for a three-shot victory to capture the FedEx Cup.
He walked away with $11.44 million - $10 million for the FedEx Cup and $1.44 million for winning the Tour Championship.
“It shows that I never giveup,” Stenson said, who also moved to No. 4 in the world. “This is way beyond what I could have imagined.”
Even with a four-shot lead, the final round was a battle. There were two trophies on display on the first tee. He knew he could still win the FedEx Cup even if he didn’t win the Tour Championship. Ultimately, he figured good golf would take care of everything, and it did.
Stenson became the first player to win the Tour Championship wire-to-wire with no ties since Tom Watson in 1987, the first year of this 30-man showcase.
Spieth made him work for it.
The 20-year-old Texan left one last impression on his remarkable rookie season by running off four consecutive birdies on the back nine at East Lake to pull within one shot after Stenson went well over the 14th green and made his long bogey.
Stenson could hear the cheers and knew what he faced over the last four holes.
“I’m not just a pretty face. I can put 1-and-1 together,” the Swede said with his dry humor.
He drilled a 3-wood into the fairway on the par-5 15th that set up an 8-foot birdie. Ahead of him on the 17th, Spieth was between clubs and chose to hammer a 9-iron that he caught heavy enough that it plugged in the front bunker. He made bogey and had to settle for a 64.
Spieth finished No. 7 in the FedEx Cup, the highest ever for a rookie. He began the year with no status on any tour and finished at No. 10 on the PGA Tour money list, and No. 21 in the world.
The last challenge came from Steve Stricker, who rolled in an eagle putt on the 15th hole to get within two. Stricker saved par behind the 16th green, and then missed two birdie chances from about 18 feet on the last two holes for a 65. He tied for second with Spieth.
Stricker didn’t realize that making any of those last two putts would have been worth an extra $1 million for finishing second in the FedEx Cup. He only cared about winning, knowing he needed birdies and for Stenson to make a mistake.
“I knew the putt meant a lot. I didn’t know it meant that much,” he said with a smile. He finished third in the FedEx Cup and received a $2 million bonus.
Stenson, who finished at 13-under 267, became the first European to win the Tour Championship and the FedEx Cup.
Tiger Woods, the No. 1 seed going into the Tour Championship, never recovered from his 73-71 start. He closed with a 67 to tie for 22nd, his worst finish ever at East Lake, and wound up second in the FedEx Cup. That still was worth a $3 million bonus.
Woods wrapped up the PGA of America’s pointsbased award for player of the year, and he captured the PGA Tour money title and the Vardon Trophy for the lowest adjusted scoring title. Next up is a vote of the players for PGA Tour player of the year. He is the heavy favorite with five victories this year.
EUROPEAN TOUR
Quesne storms back
TURIN, Italy - Julien Quesne of France made five birdies on the back nine to win the Italian Open by one stroke Sunday.
The 33-year-old Quesne began the day four shots off the lead and looked out ofcontention when he double-bogeyed the second hole. But he got one shot back on the fourth, another at the sixth and then stormed home in 31 for a 5-under 67 at the Circolo Golf Torino.
Quesne, who is 81st in the season standings, finished the tournament at 12-under 276, one stroke ahead of David Higgins of Ireland and Steve Webster of England.
Local favorite Francesco Molinari finished five strokes back on his home course.
CHAMPIONS TOUR
Wiebe wins in playoff
KAPOLEI, Hawaii - Mark Wiebe birdied the 18th hole to force a playoff and beat Corey Pavin on the second extra hole to win the Pacific Links Hawaii Championship on Sunday.
Wiebe made a clutch par putt on the second playoff hole before Pavin missed a putt from inside 10 feet that would have forced play to continue. Both Wiebe and Pavin finished regulation at 11-under 205.
Bernhard Langer, who shot in the 60s in all three rounds, finished third at 10 under. Esteban Toledo (66) and John Cook (70) were tied for fourth.
Sports, Pages 13 on 09/23/2013