Stenson’s flawless 66 turns PGA Players Championship into romp

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Henrik Stenson kept bogeys off his card and clothes on his body, earning fame Sunday for a flawless round of golf and a surprising blowout victory in The Players Championship.

Stenson wondered if he would be known best for stripping to his underwear to play out of a water hazard at Doral.

This didn’t make for great pictures, but it was close to perfection.

The 33-year-old Swede shot a 6-under 66 and was the only player without a bogey in the final round on a treacherous TPC Sawgrass course that featured firm, fast conditions rarely seen this side of a major.

Trailing by five shots, he took advantage of a swift collapse by Alex Cejka, joined the leaders with a birdie from just short of the seventh green and pulled away with a 32 on the back nine when the only drama was the margin of victory.

He wound up four shots clear of Ryder Cup teammate Ian Poulter, who shot a 70 for his best finish on the PGA Tour.

Tiger Woods played in the last group and was never a factor.

He was part of the six-way tie that included Stenson, and even as Cejka faltered to a 42 on the front nine, Woods couldn’t take advantage. He finished with a 1-over 73 to finish alone in eighth. It was his first top 10 at The Players Championship since he won in 2001, and it kept alive his streak of 16 consecutive stroke-play events in the top 10 worldwide.

Stenson, who won for the 10th time in his career worldwide, finished at 12-under 276 and earned $1.71 million. He will move to No. 5 in the world ranking.

It was the second-largest comeback at The Players Championship, and matched the largest rally on the Stadium Course. Justin Leonard also came from five shots behind to win in 1998.

Cejka lost his lead in four holes after going at the flag from a bunker and watched his ball carom off the bulkhead and into the water. He made only one birdie and shot a 79.