DEFENDING champion Henrik Stenson said he felt both angry and disappointed after learning the house he was staying in for this week’s Open championships was broken into during his opening round.

The Swede, who lifted the Claret Jug at Royal Troon last year, had personal possessions and clothes stolen on Thursday afternoon while he and his family were at Royal Birkdale.

He will return for the weekend having posted a second-round total of 73 to reach the halfway stage at two-over par.

“When I finished my round on Thursday I was informed that the house where I am staying had been burgled,” he revealed.

“It is obviously very special for me to be playing here in front of the fantastic Birkdale crowds as the defending Open champion so I am going to try not to let this spoil the week in any way.

“Of course it was not the afternoon or evening that we wanted, to get that news. I was still out at the course getting physio treatment at the time and it was kind of surreal to find out that my suitcase and all my clothes were gone. That was a bit weird.

“I think my first reaction was anger from the word go. I was also happy that my family wasn’t there at the time, and maybe a little disappointed that I wasn’t.

“But what can you do? I think over time I’ve been quite lucky with those kind of situations.

“So I guess sooner or later there’s always a chance it might happen.

“And unfortunately it did. And it was this week. But all in all we’re in good shape.

“And nothing happened to any person, which is the main thing.

“Actually they missed my carry-on bag so I still have my stuff. If they [the burglars] are listening, they didn’t get the full jackpot, but they got obviously a lot of valuables, watches and other things.

“They were clearly targeting me, because they were there when I was out playing, and they figured out that the house was empty when I was away, and they stole all my gear.

“Normally I don’t think burglars would take clothes. That doesn’t feel like the normal kind of thing that you would take.

“I wasn’t looking forward to having four hours of semi-chaos and police running around the house, and me having to go out.

“I had been out there for a long day and would rather have just gone back and wind down and take it easy. That was all I was looking forward to and that didn’t happen.

“I had to get some new gear and so on. And I think it will make me a little bit cautious of a few things going forward.”

Stenson was still able to demonstrate some of his famous dry sense of humour about the theft of his Hugo Boss clothing.

“All my gear is gone. If you see people Bossed up in this way, feel free to ask what they were doing between 12 and 4 on Thursday.

“Have they caught anyone? Not that I’m aware of. I’ll be out there looking tonight.”