Dubai: Henrik Stenson has admitted that he’s probably returned from knee surgery too soon in order to be part of this year’s Desert Swing.
However, the Swede insists that won’t affect his performance at this week’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
The 39-year-old won here in 2007 and has five top 10 finishes in 15 appearances at Emirates Golf Club.
Likewise, at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, where he finished tied for third two weeks ago, he now has four top 10 finishes, including two seconds in 11 appearances.
In the Qatar Masters, which he skipped last week, he boasts one win, five top 10 finishes and three seconds in 15 appearances.
Asked if he would have rushed back from December’s surgery as quickly if his form in these events wasn’t as good as it was, he replied: “Probably not.
“If it had not been a tournament that means that much to me, I possibly wouldn’t have pushed the return a little bit.”
That said, his tied for third place finish in Abu Dhabi shows he’s still in contention despite not being fully fit, and Stenson now expects to be just as competitive in Dubai.
“I was very pleased with my start there [in Abu Dhabi],” he added. “My putting was good and my short game was pretty good. My long game was on and off, so I’ve been working on that. But I’m happy with the way things are going early doors and hopefully I can bring that into this week.
“I don’t expect to be 100 per cent fit this week, either, but it should be good enough once again.”
Of skipping Qatar, he said: “It was hard to miss Doha last week, I’ve played every Qatar Masters and every Desert Classic since I came on tour in 2001 and every outing in Abu Dhabi since 2006.
“I’m part of the inventory I guess at these events and it was a shame to miss it, but I felt like I had to give it a rest last week.
“I couldn’t go straight back into playing 11 days of golf more or less coming out of surgery, so it was the wise decision. Hopefully, I’m good to go this week and it’s great to be back.
“It’s a great week. I made Dubai my home for almost 10 years,” added the former UAE resident. “It’s always nice to be back with a lot of familiar faces and a familiar golf course on which I have some great memories, especially from the win back in 2007.”
Asked when his knee would be fully recovered, he said: “I would imagine the next six to eight weeks I’ll still be aware of it. But I hope in a couple of months, I won’t even think about it anymore.”
Meanwhile, Graeme McDowell has said he’s set for a big year after “rededicating” himself to golf after recently getting married and becoming a father for the first time.
The 2010 US Open winner got just one top 10 finish in 18 events on the European Tour last season, but the Northern Irishman salvaged the season with a lone victory on the PGA Tour in the OHL Classic at Mayakoba in November.
“Getting married and having kids is obviously a big part of life, and I’ve enjoyed every part of that,” he said. “But when you are struggling at your profession, it doesn’t matter what your profession is, if it’s hard and you’re not making any money it’s frustrating.
“You go through that little period of introspection and trying to work out what it is you want to do with yourself. Of course, I love the game of golf and want to win more tournaments. It’s just a rededication process, and I’ve enjoyed coming out of the other side of it and getting the rewards at the end of last season.
“I feel like it takes the pressure off and coming into the New Year, I’m feeling a lot looser and a lot fresher than I was this time last year, and I really feel I can have a big year from here.”
