Just a few years after losing most of his fortune as the victim of fraud, Swede Henrik Stenson has collected a $US11.4 million ($A12.14 million) payday as the winner of the US PGA Tour Championship and the season long FedEx Cup.
Stenson fired a final round two-under 68 to claim a three shot victory at East Lake Golf Club, pocketing the $US1.44 million ($A1.53 million) first place cheque and securing his place at the top of the season points list to also garner the $US10 million ($A10.65 million) bonus.
Stenson looked in complete control early and was five in front at the turn before 20-year-old rookie Jordan Spieth went on a rampage to place a little pressure on the Swede.
Spieth birdied seven holes in a 10 hole stretch to be briefly just one off the lead before a penultimate hole bogey and a par to finish left him with a 64, only enough to share second place with veteran Steve Stricker (65) at 10-under.
American Webb Simpson (63) was fourth at nine-under.
“To hang in the way I did I am really satisfied,” Stenson, the first European to win the FedEx Cup said.
“To be honest I didn’t feel that confident with my game, I had to battle it a little bit out there today but I am very pleased and proud in the way I kept it together and to win both these trophies feels unbelievable.”
A day after illness cruelled his chances Adam Scott finished with a 69 to finish at three-under in a tie for 14th.
It was enough to have him finish fourth on the season points list, bringing a $US1.5 million ($A1.60 million) bonus.
Jason Day finished his season with a tidy 67 to join Scott in 14th for the tournament.
He collected 17th place on the points list and an extra $US240,000 ($A256,000) bonus.
While he claimed the money wasn’t his motivation Stenson has admitted to losing a substantial sum of money in 2009 in the Stanford Financial crisis that saw Allen Stanford go to prison because of a Ponzi scheme.
Stenson won the 2009 Players Championship before his game deserted him, dropping him from a top 10 player in the world to 230th.
His resurrection began at the end of 2012 when he claimed the European Tour sanctioned South African Open and now he’s moved back to an equal career high fourth in the world rankings.
