112 years! It took the gentlemen’s game that long to return to the Olympics in 2016. Since then, only six golfers have been able to bite into their medals; one of them happened to be Henrik Stenson. Despite a nagging neck injury on the 13th hole, which cost the Swede the gold medal, he still secured a spot for his country on the podium at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.

The win must have been sweet, as the silver medal became a traveling companion for the LIV golfer. If only the medal could talk! It has witnessed different fans and various venues, including a visit to Stenson’s son’s school.

All these outings have resulted in some cuts and bruises, and at one point, the LIV golfer even dropped the medal, leaving a dent in its bottom. The LIV Golf quoted him, saying, “It’s pretty banged up.” Stenson also notes that the 2016 medals were not as sturdy as others, making them more prone to wear and tear.

This has raised concerns about the lasting legacy of both the medal and his achievements. The one-time major winner said, “I think my silver medal is probably the worst-looking silver medal in the history of the Olympics.”

Nonetheless, the 48-year-old has been grateful for being among the few golfers who have an Olympic silver to their name. The win becomes extra special as Stenson did not get another chance at the Olympics, as he couldn’t rank in the top 60 in the world after the 2016 victory.

This year, Ludvig Aberg and Alex Noren will represent Sweden at Le Golf National and hopefully bring a medal, as Stenson once did. Nevertheless, while talking about his dented medal, the Swede also indulged in the hot topic of which is better, an Olympic medal or winning a major. Stenson probably had different views than the gold medalist, Xander Schauffele.

Which of the two holds more significance for Stenson: the Claret Jug or an Olympic medal? 

Unlike Xander Schauffele, who believes that the Olympic medal isn’t comparable to a major win and will only hold a similar value in the next 3 or 4 decades, Stenson has a different perspective. In the 2016 season, the Swede pro was fortunate enough to win an Olympic medal, and a month before that, he also bagged the Claret Jug after defeating Phil Mickelson in an enthralling match. Hence, the one-time major winner knows the value of both accolades.

The 48-year-old was asked about what fans wanted to see more: his Claret Jug or the silver medal. The Olympian clarified that the golf fans want to see the Jug. However, he also said, “I think if you are talking the whole world, people probably know more about Olympic medals.”

Furthermore, Stenson weighed the importance of the Olympic medal against a major and concluded that the former had a wider reach. He explained that since, comparatively, more people know about the Olympics than the Claret Jug or a major, “that just shows that it’s kind of bigger than our sport and has a greater reach,” said Stenson.

Regardless, both laurels are hard to achieve, hold value, and add to the silverware cabinet. What are your thoughts on whether an Olympic medal is more significant than a major win in a golfer’s life?