Henrik Stenson 'plays like a captain' to win LIV Golf Invitational Bedminster on debut

Henrik Stenson said he "played like a captain" to win the LIV Golf Invitational Bedminster on his debut, 10 days after being stripped of the Ryder Cup captaincy over his decision to join the new series.

Stenson, 44, turned back the clock to win the third LIV Golf tournament, taking the title by two shots on Sunday after an 11-under par 202. After an opening-round 64, Stenson shot back-to-back 69s to hold off the field at Trump National Bedminster.

Stenson beat Matthew Wolff (final-round 64) and Dustin Johnson (68) by two shots. Mexico's Carlos Ortiz (68) was fourth at eight-under and Patrick Reed (69) placed fifth at seven-under.

Stenson was stripped of his captaincy for the European Ryder Cup team this month as a consequence of joining the breakaway LIV series, which aims to compete with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour.

"I guess we can agree," Stenson told the LIV broadcast, "I played like a captain."

Stenson's last professional victory came nearly five years ago at the PGA Tour's Wyndham Championship in August 2017.

"It's been a good first week, obviously. Nice to be here with the guys and getting a feel for it," said Stenson, who collected the $4 million winner's cheque. "It's been a busy 10 days and I'm extremely proud that I managed to focus as well as I did. It was a bit wobbly coming home. We haven't finished the deal in a couple of years with any wins, so it's always a little added pressure when you're up in contention."

LIV utilises a scramble format that allows all players to be on the course simultaneously, but as the overnight leader, Stenson began his round at the first hole and finished at No 18. He birdied the par-4 first and fifth holes and added a third birdie at the par-3 14th before his lone bogey at