The Swede is among the contenders for the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, an event he won in 2007. He spoke about his fitness and form ahead of Thursday's opening round.
Knee surgery
The Swede said of his recent knee surgery: “It’s still attached. It’s moving forward – I’m lifting the leg. It feels all right. I don’t expect to be 100 per cent this week, but it should be good enough once again. It’s going to be that way for the next couple of months, I guess. The more stress you put on it, the more it’s going to respond.”
Poll: Rory McIlroy? Henrik Stenson? Who will win the Omega Dubai Desert Classic title?
Read: Five players set to rival McIlroy and Stenson for the Omega Dubai Desert Classic title
Rehabilitation
Of getting back to full fitness, Stenson said: “There’s never a completely fixed date, but I would imagine over the next six to eight weeks I’ll still be aware of it and so on. It takes a few months for the filaments in the knee [to heal]. That might take even longer, but the first couple of months, you just expect to be a little reactive and so on.”
Comparing sports
On how his knee injury compared to that of a rugby player, Stenson said: “Obviously golfers are a bit stronger and, you know, Swedish genes as well, you have to think about that, of course. Viking in the north wind, right? But it is a different sport. I can only imagine. I wouldn’t want to have someone come at me full speed and tackle me.”
Back in Dubai
“I made Dubai my home for almost 10 years so it’s always nice to be back,” Stenson said. “A lot of familiar faces and a familiar golf course which I have some great memories from, especially the win back in 2007. It was hard to miss Doha last week. I’ve played every Qatar Masters and every Dubai Desert Classic since I came on Tour in 2001, and every outing in Abu Dhabi since 2006.”
Building on Abu Dhabi
Stenson finished joint-third at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship last month, and he said: I was very pleased with the week, both on the results side and how I played. Long game was a little on and off, so I’ve been working some on that. Happy with the way things were going early doors. Hopefully I can bring that into this week, too.”
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport
