Henrik Stenson resigns from DP World Tour

From Ryder Cup captain to former DP World Tour member in the space of ten months.

What a year it has been for Henrik Stenson.

The 2016 Open champion has become the latest high-profile player to quit the DP World Tour, with several more expected to follow suit.

Stenson’s decision came hot on the heels of the tour announcing further sanctions for members who have aligned with LIV Golf.

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On Thursday, a total of 26 players were informed of the sanctions applicable to them based on the specific conflicting tournaments they each played in without having been granted a release.

These sanctions included fines ranging from £12,500 to £100,000 and, in some instances, tournament suspensions.

No sooner had those sanctions been announced than Stenson – unceremoniously dumped as Europe’s Ryder Cup captain last year after jumping ship for LIV – was penning his resignation letter.

“It is sad that it has come to this but it is what it is and it certainly wasn’t unexpected,” he told Golf Digest. “They left me with no other choice so I have resigned. That’s it.

“I don’t really feel like it will do any good to dig into this too deeply. I’m appreciative of what the Tour has done for me over the years. But they have chosen how they want to view the future, and we have obviously done the same.

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“Unfortunately, they don’t go together at this point.

“When Richard Bland, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Sergio Garcia resigned last week, the Tour said they would have a statement the next day. Then the next day they said the statement would actually come next week. There were rumours that would happen today and those rumours were right.

“I received a letter, as did all the other players involved, I hear. The tour has taken a stand on the LIV events we all played in and that left me with no decision to make really.”

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor