Henrik Stenson was on Wednesday stripped of the captaincy of the European Ryder Cup workforce, with the Swede understood to be on the verge of becoming a member of the Saudi-funded insurgent LIV Golf Invitational Series.
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Following discussions with Ryder Cup Europe officers, the choice was made to successfully sack the 46-year-old as skipper of the workforce for the occasion in Italy subsequent 12 months.
The transfer will deepen the rifts in a sport wracked by inner division, with a rising quantity of main stars defecting to the profitable new circuit.
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Ryder Cup Europe mentioned in an announcement that Henrik Stenson’s tenure as skipper for the competitors towards the United States in Rome subsequent 12 months had been dropped at an finish “with immediate effect”.
“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,” it mentioned.
The assertion added: “Confirmation of the new 2023 European Ryder Cup captain will be made in due course. Ryder Cup Europe will be making no further comment on any aspect of the process until that time.”
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Stenson, the 2016 British Open champion, reached a profession excessive of quantity two on this planet however has since slumped to 171 within the rankings.
His appointment as skipper of Team Europe in March had appeared to finish hypothesis about his involvement within the Saudi-backed breakaway sequence as he insisted he was totally dedicated to the position.
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Speaking after his appointment, Stenson mentioned: “I am fully committed to the captaincy, Ryder Cup Europe and the job at hand, so we are going to keep busy with that and I’m going to do everything in my power to deliver a winning team in Rome.”
After lacking the minimize ultimately week’s Open, Henrik Stenson admitted his upcoming schedule was “undecided”.
His anticipated defection to the LIV sequence shall be a recent headache for the established excursions, which have been powerless to forestall big-name gamers such as Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson from becoming a member of the insurgent circuit.
European gamers have to be members of the DP World Tour, previously recognized as the European Tour, to be eligible to compete for Team Europe within the Ryder Cup.
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Former US President Donald Trump on Monday urged golfers to “take the money” and signal with the LIV sequence, with reviews stating extra gamers have been poised to hitch the controversial circuit.
Trump, who’s internet hosting LIV occasions at two of his golf programs this 12 months, mentioned in a publish on his Truth Social community that gamers shouldn’t hesitate to desert the PGA Tour, which he branded “disloyal”.
LIV Golf, which is fronted by Australian nice Greg Norman, is bankrolled by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
Human Rights teams have criticised the enterprise saying it’s getting used to spice up Saudi Arabia’s worldwide fame, a phenomenon labelled “sportswashing”.
The Ryder Cup is because of happen on the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome from September 29 subsequent 12 months.
Europe shall be aiming to wrestle again the trophy after a heavy defeat to the United States at Whistling Straits final 12 months.
While a choice has not but been made on Henrik Stenson’s alternative, the European workforce have a quantity of choices, with former captain Thomas Bjorn, who led them to victory in France in 2018, already on the workforce after Stenson chosen him as his first vice-captain.
By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
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