UK: 18+ USA: 21+ | Begambleaware.org | T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly
Henrik Stenson, a former Ryder Cup captain and winner of the Open Championship in 2016, has resigned from the DP World Tour after more fines were dished out from the tour to those who have competed in LIV Golf and Asian Tour events over the past 12 months.
The tour has dished out fines ranging from £12,500 to £100,000 for each breach of the Conflicting Tournament Regulation which states that players on the DP World Tour aren’t allowed to play in any other golf tournament unless released by DP World Tour officials.
In total, 26 players have received fines which has prompted Stenson to join the likes of Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia and Richard Bland to resign from the tour. As per the rules, none of these players will be eligible to be reinstated to the DP World Tour until they have paid the fines.
Speaking about his decision to resign from the tour, Stenson said:
“It is sad that it has come to this, but it is what it is and it certainly wasn’t unexpected. They left me with no other choice so I have resigned. That’s it. I don’t really feel like it will do any good to dig into this too deeply.
I’m appreciative of what the tour has done for me over the years. But they have chosen how they want to view the future. And we have obviously done the same. Unfortunately, they don’t go together at this point.”
European stalwart Henrik Stenson has quits the DP World Tour after the latest sanctions for joining LIV Golf https://t.co/XdVsmI26b1
— Golf Monthly (@GolfMonthly) May 12, 2023
A sad end for the Swede
Since deciding to join the LIV Golf Series last July, Stenson hasn’t had the best of times both on a professional and personal note. Professionally, he is yet to record a victory on the LIV Golf Series and personally, he has seen Ryder Cup captaincy stripped from him.
Stenson has enjoyed an illustrious career in golf and was the first man from Scandanavia to win a major tournament when he won the Open Championship in 2016. He reached as high as number two in the world and represented Europe on five separate occasions between 2006 and 2018 in the Ryder Cup.
He always seemed destined to captain Europe at a Ryder Cup and he was set to do so this year but his decision to join LIV Golf has taken that opportunity away from him. Speaking further on his fines and in relation to the Ryder Cup, Stenson said:
“As was the case when I resigned from the Ryder Cup captaincy, I have my views on a lot of things that have gone on. But out of respect for a lot of people and what they do – and even those I don’t totally respect – there is no point in me digging any deeper.
There is less than half a year until the Ryder Cup so it is best I don’t say much other than to say I’ve resigned.”
Staying positive
The LIV Golf Series heads to Tulsa this weekend for the sixth event of the year and Stenson will be teeing it up with fire in his belly alongside his fellow Europeans. If he can come out as the victor this weekend, then a loud and clear message will be sent to the DP World Tour after the action it has taken this week.
Subscribe to Punditfeed on Google News for all the latest updates from the world of sports!
