BEDMINSTER, NJ – A far-left golf journo dragged his family’s name through the mud. The DP World Tour fired him as Ryder Cup captain. A smug tour player, who couldn’t hold his jockstrap, trolled him on Twitter. And even a washed-up former teammate with a world ranking in the mid triple digits attempted to dunk on him.
In the end, though, it was Henrik Stenson, the soft-spoken Swede, who got the last laugh as he exited Trump National in Bedminster, New Jersey with a check for $4.35 million, after winning in his debut on the LIV Golf tour.
After tapping in for his second-straight round of 69 to finish 11 under and claim a two-stroke victory over Americans Dustin Johnson (68) and Matt Wolff (64), Stenson was asked if the victory proved he’d made the right decision to join LIV Golf.
“Yeah, I guess we can agree I played like a captain,” Stenson told LIV Golf’s Dom Boulet. “It’s been a good first week, nice to be here with the guys and get a feel for it.
“It’s been a busy 10 days and I’m extremely proud to focus the way I did having not been in contention for a number of years.”
Exit note: Stenson’s two big mouth PGA Tour critics, Max Homa (T24, $68k) and Luke Donald (T49, $20k), didn’t earn $100k combined for their four days of work at the Rocket Mortgage Classic.
Stenson’s caddie, Gareth Lord, took home $435,000.
On the web: LIVGolf.com
Rooting for DJ to win but about half way thru was thinking the better story was actually Henrik. Dude is a such a nice guy and class act and to see him get rewarded for decision. It was just beautiful.