Stenson's major title means his caddy must quit smoking

It wasn't just his own life Henrik Stenson enhanced Sunday at Royal Troon.

Stenson's victory at the 145th Open Championship settled a wager made between he and his caddy, Gareth Lord, who must now quit smoking as a result of the 40-year-old's first triumph at a major.

"He has kept his half of the deal," Lord said, according to Ewan Murray of The Guardian, "now I will do my bit."

The bet can be viewed simply as but a feel-good anecdote for Stenson's historical achievement. But really, it might do best to explain his remarkable composure throughout the weekend, and the absolute confidence he had in his conquering of Phil Mickelson.

"We were on the 7th tee on Sunday, I was drawing on a cigarette," Lord told Murray. "Henrik said: 'Enjoy that. You have about two and a half hours left.'

"That's when I knew how obviously up for it he was, how much he fancied himself. He wouldn’t be the type to tell anyone beforehand that he thought or knew he would win but that was a sign."