LIV Golf’s Henrik Stenson binned by Swedish Golf Federation after defection to the Saudi-backed circuit meaning he can ‘no longer act as a role model for Swedish junior golfers’
- Swedish golfer Henrik Stenson has been dumped by his nation’s golf federation
- The decision to cut ties follows Stenson’s defection to LIV Golf in early July
- Months prior, he signed on as Ryder Cup captain for 2023 before jumping ship
- Stenson won his first tournament as a LIV Golfer, taking out the third LIV Golf Invitational in Bedminster – and a cool $4million payout for his efforts
- Click here for all your latest international Sports news from DailyMail.com
LIV Golf star Henrik Stenson has sensationally had his relationship with the Swedish Golf Federation (SGF) terminated.
The move follows Stenson’s defection to the Saudi-backed circuit in early July, in which he turned his back on the PGA Tour to join other big names in taking a huge salary increase.
‘We believe that Henrik, given his involvement with LIV Golf, can no longer act as a role model for Swedish junior golfers,’ Gunnar Hakansson, SGF’s secretary general, told news agency TT.
Stenson acknowledged the dumping on his Instagram, writing; ‘Naturally, we are disappointed that the SGF feels that our commitment and financial support via the Henrik Stenson Foundation is no longer wanted.
‘But this will in no way impact our drive to develop junior and paragolf in Sweden.’
Previously, the former World No. 2 was an ambassador for the Federation’s Paragolf and Paragolf Tour with Stenson — according to his website — consistently donating prize money from winning Swedish Golfer of the Year towards the entities.
Henrik Stenson has financially won since joining LIV Golf but has also lost post-defection with both the Ryder Cup and Sweden’s Golf Federation dumping him in response to the move
‘Henrik is a role model and has shown a genuine commitment by supporting this cause several times,’ a quote from Helena Brobeck, SGF Paragolf Manager, reads on Stenson’s site.
‘As ambassador he will be of help recruiting more disabled people to the game of golf and to allow them to reach their goals.’
Stenson also had his Ryder Cup ties severed in the aftermath of joining LIV Golf, despite signing on as Team Europe’s captain for the 2023 iteration.
While previously remarking that he would not join the breakaway entity, Stenson flipped and was consequently stripped of the captaincy.
The Swede was set to be captain of Europe’s 2023 Ryder Cup team before his backflip, but has since been replaced by Englishman Luke Donald (pictured)
‘There’s been a lot of speculation back and forth, and as I said, I am fully committed to the captaincy and to Ryder Cup Europe and the job at hand,’ Stenson said in his Ryder Cup press conference in March.
‘So we’re going to keep busy with that, and I’m going to do everything in my power to deliver a winning team in Rome.’
Stenson never made it to Rome and instead joined LIV Golf prior to its first event in Bedminster, NJ. — which he won, netting a $4 million payday.
Former President Donald Trump congratulated Stenson following his LIV Golf Invitational win
Sealed with a kiss: Stenson’s move paid off handsomely after his win in Bedminster in late July
The one-time British Open winner will have a chance to further his winnings when he participates in the LIV Golf Invitational Thailand, in Bangkok on October 7-9.
Despite his now-tarnished status in his homeland — with golf’s governing body at least — Stenson is the highest-ranked Swede ever, after climbing as high as world No. 2.
He spent 300 weeks in the world’s top 10 and has won six PGA Tours alongside 11 on his home continent.
Stenson was once ranked as high as second in the world and won the British Open back in 2016
.