Henrik Stenson wonders why he had to play pointless third-place World Match Play match even after winning

MARANA, Ariz. - Henrik Stenson knocked around another of the world’s top 60 golfers this afternoon, beating Justin Leonard 3-and-2. Only Stenson really sounded like he could have cared less.

There’s good reason for that too. Stenson’s win came in the third-place consolation match in the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship. What is this, girl’s high school softball? Who plays a consolation game in the pros after being eliminated from title contention?

Tiger Woods all but called for the demolition of this needless match earlier in the week. In fact, the mere presence of this monster made Tiger more of a lock to beat Stenson in the semifinals than he has been in any tournament in his entire career - Mike Douglas Show, junior golf, college or pro.

No way Woods was ever going to let himself get stuck playing the consolation match on a Sunday.

“Honestly if I was to make the decisions on this championship, I think probably Justin and I would have been happy not to play today and take a tie for third place,” Stenson said. “It is hard to mobilize the energy for a match for third place.”

You think? No way! Who knew!

No word on whether someone from the PGA Tour approached Stenson after his win and told him it was necessary to entertain a single solitary loser in Buffalo who doesn’t have a life or apparently a working snow plow.