The creation of the Saudi Super League continues to wreak havoc in the world of goals. The Ryder Cup released a statement on Wednesday announcing that Henrik Stenson has been stripped of the Team Europe captaincy amid speculation the Swedish golfer would soon join LIV Golf.
The 2016 British Open champion helped Europe to victory in three of his five Ryder Cup appearances as a player, including last on home soil at Le Golf National in 2018.
Stenson, 46, was also vice-captain to Padraig Harrington at Whistling Straits last year and was challenged to recapture the trophy following Europe's 19-9 monopoly loss to Team USA in Wisconsin.
"In light of the decisions made by Henrik in relation to his personal circumstances, it has become clear that he will not be able to fulfill certain contractual obligations to the Ryder Cup Europe," Ryder Cup Europe said in a statement. "...And therefore it is not possible for him to continue in the role of captain.
The Ryder Cup indicated that it will announce the European captain for the 2023 edition, at the Marco Simone Golf
Sky Sports reported on Tuesday that Stenson would become the latest celebrity golfer to join the list of players who signed up for the LIV Golf Invitational Series. Players like Spain's Sergio Garcia, six-time Grand Slam champion Phil Mickelson, former world number ones Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka and former US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau have already taken the plunge.
Funded by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, LIV Golf held its first event in London last month, which was won by South African Charl Schwartzel, who walked away with the $4 million prize, the largest check ever handed out in history. of golf.
Critics of the new series say it amounts to "sports whitewashing" by a country trying to improve its reputation in light of its record of human rights violations.
