Former Open champion Henrik Stenson will make his long-awaited return to competitive golf this week as he tees it up at the Senior PGA Championship in Florida.

Henrik Stenson

The Swede, nicknamed “The Iceman,” is set to play in the $3 million event at The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton—marking his debut on the over-50s circuit just days after celebrating his 50th birthday on April 5.

It will be Stenson’s first competitive start since being relegated from the LIV Golf League at the end of the 2025 season. The five-time Ryder Cup player finished 49th in the individual standings, falling short of retaining his place in the breakaway circuit he joined in 2022.

Stenson’s move to LIV Golf came at a cost, as he lost his role as European Ryder Cup captain for the 2023 edition shortly after signing.

Despite shooting 17 under for the tournament, Mickelson still lost by three to Stenson at Troon in 2016. "It was a shot to my ego," Mickelson says. "I had always assumed that my best golf would win. But that week I played as well as I could and came up short.” Warren Little/R&A

Now, the 2016 Open champion begins a new chapter in his career. The 86th edition of the Senior PGA Championship promises a stacked field, underlining its status as the most prestigious major in senior golf. This year’s lineup includes 11 past Senior PGA champions, 21 major winners, seven World Golf Hall of Famers, and 10 former Ryder Cup captains.

Among the notable names joining Stenson in the field are defending champion Ángel Cabrera, along with major winners Michael Campbell, Stewart Cink, Darren Clarke, John Daly, Ernie Els, Pádraig Harrington, Retief Goosen, Zach Johnson, Bernhard Langer, Vijay Singh, and Mike Weir.

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Main Image: LIV Golf