Henrik Stenson wins Golf Writers Trophy ahead of Danny Willett

Henrik Stenson has been awarded the Association of Golf Writers Trophy for a second time after claiming his first major title in 2016.

The Swede, who also won the award in 2013, received an overwhelming majority of votes from the association's members to claim the accolade, which recognises the person born or residing in Europe to have made the year's most outstanding contribution to golf.

Stenson prevailed in an epic final-day battle with Phil Mickelson to win The Open at Royal Troon before winning the Olympic silver medal a month later.

The 40-year-old also won the BMW International Open and finished runner-up at the WGC-HSBC Champions, registering 13 worldwide top-10s during a year which saw him claim the Race to Dubai crown.

"It is always a great honour to receive the Association's award," Stenson said. "We talk about receiving recognition from your colleagues and your peers but in this instance it's great to be receiving that recognition from some of the most knowledgeable media in the sport.

"So it's wonderful to be chosen as their Golf Writers Association Trophy winner and I feel very honoured to win the award for a second time in my career.

"The manner I went about this year was very pleasing from start to finish. It's been a great year for European golf and the European Tour and even though we didn't bring back the Ryder Cup, I look back knowing that winning The Open helped so much in winning the Race to Dubai.

"And while Danny Willett has to be congratulated for winning the Masters, I again have to thank the Association of Golf Writers in voting me as their Golfer of the Year.

"I'll never grow tired of being weighed down with trophies."