Henrik Stenson became the latest player to join the LIV Golf league, confirming our report from Sunday evening.
Playing into the accusations of anti-trust violations and collusion (with the PGA Tour), Ryder Cup Europe immediately cut ties with 2016 British Open champion, who they celebrated just three days ago.
On this day in 2016 ?
Our Captain @henrikstenson won #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/6RajOuUbLk
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) July 17, 2022
The haughty group released a cold and classless statement on Twitter, which didn’t even thank the Hall of Fame Swede. The post received over 650 comments, with a vast, vast majority of the responses firmly in the camp of Stenson.
A statement from Ryder Cup Europe.
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) July 20, 2022
“Ryder Cup Europe today confirms that Henrik Stenson’s tenure as captain of Team Europe for the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome, Italy from September 25 – October 1, 2023, has been brought to an end with immediate effect,” wrote Ryder Cup Europe.
The commenters were not happy with one of golf’s gatekeepers:
There is a simple solution to save the Ryder Cup. Don't ban the LIV tour participants. Its the PGA and European tours who are creating this problem
— Yami (@nuradeenv6) July 20, 2022
Henrik has 21 worldwide wins on 6 different tours and it’s always been accommodated but this new tour is now a problem for Team Europe? The Ryder Cup is the biggest money maker for the European Tour and it’s about to be devalued. This decision looks petty and pointless.
— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) July 20, 2022
The various governing groups are trying to band together and be tough
Someone here is going to make a big mistake or alternatively have a lot of egg on their face— Andrew Kirby (@AndrewKirbyGolf) July 20, 2022
Oh dear. The inevitable reshaping of the golfing landscape is in full swing. PGA and DP World Tours are being outmanoeuvred due to a reluctance to change formats. Yes, the money is a huge enabler for these older pros etc but the archaic attitudes in golf are the real problem.
— Brucie (@S73Bruce) July 20, 2022
Got to laugh at all the bitter comments about players going to LIV knowing full well that they would do the exact same thing if they were in a similar position! I would 100% go to an organisation offering me more money for my professionno doubt about it as would all of you ??
— ??John Cleland?? (@theeoriginal_jc) July 20, 2022
Why do this?
Does this also confirm @WestwoodLee, @TheSergioGarcia, @IanJamesPoulter will never be captains or a part of the teams moving forward?
— West Texas Driving Range Pro (@jjkilleentcu) July 20, 2022
It’s a show of force to prove that players will choose @LIVGolfInv over @RyderCup. Fans exclaiming that Stenson won’t draw new fans have no idea what’s going on
— Nick Lynk (@nicklynk) July 20, 2022
What a shame that you don't let people play!
Stop putting money before golf. Include the best European players and captains. Or else it's not a Ryder Cup.— Benny Frank the 3rd ⛳️ (@BennyFrank3rd) July 20, 2022
Ryder Cup Europe is finished. No Kaymer, Wiesberger, Casey, Garcia, Poulter, Westwood, Larrazabal, Canter, Stenson, Bland, McDowell and Horsfield. More to come when DPWT players don’t get enough points from August on.
— Michael Scarscon (@CrAmEr_Inverse) July 20, 2022
Absolute ridiculous decision, I was hoping that the European tour would not be as petty as the @PGATOUR, you can’t stop this, more and more players will go to @LIVGolfInv and there is nothing you can do about it, Ryder Cup is about Europe’s best vs US best.
— FPL Kenicito ?? (@FKenicito) July 20, 2022
Lol- “In light of decisions made by Henrik in relation to his personal circumstances, it has become clear that he will not be able to fulfil certain contractual obligations to Ryder Cup Europe…” <- this is untrue
— The New Majority (@NixonandIke) July 20, 2022
Petty . Politics should not interfere with sport. Without the best players, captains and vice captains then the Ryder Cup is instantly reduced back to the Mickey Mouse event it was prior to becoming “Europe” instead of “GB & Ireland”.
— Mark (@MarkHarrisonByC) July 20, 2022
Absolute lack of respect to Stenson. He is a Major Winner, and what functions can he not fulfil apart from picking a team to beat U.S ?
The Cup is more than a year away!
Your press release has diminished the Ryder Cup.— Ian Edmundson (@ihedmundson) July 20, 2022
Ryder Cup is meant to be about the best in Europe vs the best in USA, it should not matter what tour the players are on, this decision is all about the European tour and PGA tour being jealous. More players will move to @LIVGolfInv and you can’t stop it.
— FPL Kenicito ?? (@FKenicito) July 20, 2022
Spent his entire career building the world your, major champion, best Scandinavian player of all time and busted his guts to get the captaincy.
Should be ashamed of yourselves Ryder Cup Europe!
— Emmitt Traynor (@TraynorEmmitt) July 20, 2022
There is absolutely no reason for this, Ryder Cup are just jumping on the band wagon. They, just like the PGA and DP will ultimately lose out in the long run.
— Craig Brown (@wignostic) July 20, 2022
Poor show from Europe, why can’t Stenson keep the Ryder Cup captains job , he’s been a great soldier for Europe and LIV golf is just another tour that seems to have ruffled everyone’s feathers , Saudi money has been part of the European tour for years already – epic fail ??♂️
— Caseyjones (@Goonerjcasey) July 20, 2022
Ryder cup bullying its players… let them play wherever they want.
— Space Simian (@DeepSpaceSimian) July 20, 2022
Realistically what difference does it make? Problem is not Stenson, problem is PGA and European tour getting their knickers in a twist.
— FPL Kenicito ?? (@FKenicito) July 20, 2022
R & A so childish. It’s like the little kid who takes his ball and goes home so others can’t play
— Bugeater (@Ahamo72) July 20, 2022
So all the years Henrik spent supporting the European Tour counts for nothing now ?
— Stephen Cording (@reflog18) July 20, 2022
Absolutely embarrassing stance, The establishment of golf throwing their toys out for the world to see. @LIVGolfInv is taking names. @PGATOUR @DPWorldTour don’t own golf or these players time to collaborate before we decimate the generational talent from our Ryder Cups & Majors
— John Close (@JohnClose) July 20, 2022
Unfortunate decision for the game of Golf. This was an opportunity to start closing gaps and not further opening them. Missed it! What is suffering is the sport itself, which is forgotten about. Too bad.
— Tony Steinegger ?? ?? (@To_Stein) July 20, 2022
I can’t help this is a deliberate ploy by LIV. Whoever is the replacement, it wouldn’t surprised me if they are offered a similar deal to Stenson – be that Bjorn, Clarke, whoever. And they are going to have to have some backbone to decline. Interesting times.
— Nicky Anderson (@nicky13anderson) July 20, 2022
It's sad that if someone is involved with LIV you cut them off. This isn't going to go away and when they get more and more top 20 players you are gonna have to rethink this strategy. Just get around a table and find a way to co-exist whilst not devaluing Ryder cups and Majors ??
— Michael Walsh (@chileboy77) July 20, 2022
The PGA and DPWC will regret those decisions in a relatively near future! Just saying…
— M&M (@marcop3fe) July 20, 2022
The Ryder Cup is just an exhibition though, right? Lol.
— Golf_Realist (@Golf_Realist) July 20, 2022
Why is the PGA and Ryder Cup afraid of competition?
— David St. Hilaire (@DavidStHilaire1) July 20, 2022
Bad decision.
— MaxB (@max70594025) July 20, 2022
Embarrassing from the Ryder cup.
— Ben (@BenWalker675) July 20, 2022
RIP Ryder Cup
— Jon Ball (@JballJon) July 20, 2022
Rubbish!!! Ryder cup is finished thanks to the PGA garbage! European tour being the lap dogs once again for the yanks ……. Why again …. Money!!! The irony is amazing
— ✯Andrew Armstrong✯ (@StrogDogg) July 20, 2022
petty AF
— Paul White (@drpeedeedub) July 20, 2022
