Henrik Stenson slams DP World Tour on eve Open.
In explosive comments Telecom Sportsthe Swede complained that the first golfers to leave the course were treated differently to those who left later.
His main complaint is that he believes he was fined twice as much as Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton are being fined now.
Stenson is one of the first players in the 2022 class to leave the LIV Golf League.
At the time, the tour was simply known as the Saudi Golf League, and Stenson briefly served as Europe's Ryder Cup captain.
But he was stripped of that honor due to his decision to compete in the LIV event.
He, along with Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia, was reportedly fined up to £100,000 Participate in LIV events without a tournament permit.
After a protracted legal battle, in which a panel of former High Court judges sided with the Tour, Europe’s old-school teams decided to relinquish their membership.
Their decision therefore brings a sad end to their careers on their home tour and excludes them from any leadership role in the European Ryder Cup.
Henrik Stenson practices at Royal Troon
“Yes, those of us who came first were treated differently than those who came later,” Stenson told reporters.
“I’ve heard that before I resigned my membership, the fines for every LIV fight I attended were twice what Jon is receiving now.
“How is that possible? Are they saying I'm worth twice as much as Jon?
“It is, and probably even more so. If so, that's a great compliment.”
“It's to save face for the top guys, isn't it? And for the Ryder Cup, too?”
Stenson said he believed the decision was made to “make an example” of these golfers.
That said, he said he has not given up hope of taking on a leadership role for Team Europe in the future.
“Hopefully, everything will be resolved,” he said.
Henrik Stenson
The PGA Tour is continuing to discuss terms with LIV backers to refine the framework agreement reached last June.
The five-page agreement, signed on May 30, 2023, outlines how the PGA Tour, Dubai World Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund will create a new entity to coordinate men’s golf by integrating their respective business activities.
Tiger Woods said in a news conference before the Open that he was pleased with the progress of those talks, although he did not provide details.
In addition, the aforementioned Rahm revealed that he may have difficulty retaining his DP World Tour membership.
He said he didn’t know if he would be able to compete on the DP World Tour after the LIV season ended because of complications with his wife’s pregnancy.
Rahm was previously told he would be eligible to play in next year's Ryder Cup as long as he paid his fine and played in at least four DP World Tour events.
Stenson also told the newspaper that they were not informed of the approach.
“Yes, that’s the risk we take,” he said.
“But now seeing other people being treated this way, it doesn’t feel right.”
Stenson, who memorably lifted the claret jug after a protracted battle with Phil Mickelson in 2016, teed off at 12.42pm BST alongside amateurs Jacob Olsen and Rasmus Hoggard.
Mickelson will take the field at 2:04pm BST along with Dustin Johnson and Joost Luyten.
