Henrik Stenson, along with Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood, all of whom co-captain Majesticks GC, joined the LIV Golf League in 2022 but were forced to resign their DP World Tour membership over escalating financial penalties. Westwood revealed that his outstanding fines exceeded $1 million before he walked away from the tour he had been a part of for almost 30 years. He also criticized the European Tour for lack of consistency in imposing fines and bans, stating that more recent LIV signings like Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton were not penalized as severely as the initial cohort.
Stenson, echoing Westwood’s sentiments, emphasized the need for consistency in how players are treated by the European Tour, particularly in relation to fines and bans. He raised concerns about the treatment of Rahm and Hatton, suggesting that all players should be treated equally regardless of their affiliations. Stenson’s comments came ahead of the LIV Golf Greenbrier event and following the European Tour’s announcement of changes to the Ryder Cup qualification process, which now involves a combined points list for golfers on both the European and US-based circuits.
The new qualification process will assign more points to PGA Tour events and Majors, with no points available on the PGA Tour until January 1. Stenson, not eligible for Ryder Cup consideration due to his departure from the DP World Tour, believes that the changes will have minimal impact on the final selection of the 12 players for Luke Donald’s squad. He noted that the top players in the rankings are likely to remain the same, regardless of the adjustments made to the qualification system.
Stenson expressed his belief that the changes to the qualification process lean towards a more PGA Tour-centric approach in European rankings, but ultimately, the same players who play a global schedule will likely make it to the top of the list. He emphasized that regardless of how the points system is structured, the outcome in terms of the 12 players selected for the Ryder Cup team is unlikely to change significantly. Stenson stressed the importance of consistency in how players are treated and called for equal treatment for all players, regardless of their affiliations.
As the European Tour faces scrutiny over its handling of fines and bans for players participating in the LIV Golf League, Stenson, along with other former DP World Tour members, has highlighted the need for fairness and consistency in how disciplinary actions are enforced. The ongoing debate surrounding player treatment and penalties underscores the challenges faced by professional golfers navigating between different tours and leagues. Stenson’s comments shed light on the complexities of balancing allegiance to various golfing organizations and the impact of decisions on players’ careers and opportunities in major tournaments like the Ryder Cup.
