Henrik Stenson carries his good Open form into first round at Baltusrol

28 July 2016 11:53

Open champion Henrik Stenson set his sights on claiming back-to-back major titles after making an impressive start to the US PGA Championship.

Just 11 days after lifting the Claret Jug with a record-breaking performance at Royal Troon, Stenson carded an opening 67 at Baltusrol to lie two shots off the lead held by American Jimmy Walker.

" It's going to be a great season for me, but at the same time I want to give myself a chance to try to make it the best season," Stenson said after outscoring playing partners and fellow 2016 major winners Danny Willett and Dustin Johnson by four and 10 shots respectively.

"I still want to focus and get back into it. With more time (between events) it would have made it easier to recharge, but at the same time I feel I can carry that momentum I had at the Open Championship and I guess the start shows that we're not too far away when we teed it up again.

"I'm happy with the day's work and it's another two and a half days to try and be in position on Sunday afternoon, which is what it's all about.

"I feel like I'm pretty clear on what I need to do with my game, with my swing and everything. And then the challenge this week was to be back in there mentally and focused - and on one or two occasions I think I slipped and I probably paid the price.

"But I think the most important thing is what you do afterwards and I felt like I gave myself a little kick in the butt after missing that short putt on nine - and I was better committing on my lines from there on."

Source: PA