Henrik Stenson resigns from DP World Tour amid fresh bout of sanctions on LIV players
What an incredibly unpredictable year it’s been for Henrik Stenson.
In March 2022, the Swede was named Europe’s Ryder Cup captain for the matches in Italy this year.
Four months later, he was removed as the blue side’s leader for moving to LIV Golf, and now in May 2023, he is no longer a member of the DP World Tour.
Stenson has followed his Majesticks GC teammates Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter in giving up his membership, as well as Sergio Garcia and Richard Bland.
“It is sad that it has come to this,” he said to Golf Digest. “But it is what it is and it certainly wasn’t unexpected. 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. Unfortunately, they don’t go together at this point.”
The DP World Tour has now announced further sanctions on players who have competed in the LIV Golf League between June 22, 2022, and April 2, 2023, the day before an arbitration panel ruled in the circuit’s favour in punishing its members.
26 players have been told of more sanctions and they differ in severity based on each case, including both fines and tournament suspensions.
Fines can range anywhere between £12,5000 and £100,000 for each individual breach and players can be suspended for up to eight DP World Tour events.
The sum of each fine is set to be decided based on the impact of each event on the tour’s broadcast partners, sponsors, and stakeholders.
The suspensions imposed only concern regular season events, and not major championships. As Stenson has resigned, he can’t be reinstated until his fine is paid, and then his suspension will begin.
“I haven’t added up the numbers on how much I was fined,” he continued. “It was anywhere between £50,000 and £75,000 per LIV event, which added up to a substantial amount.
“I don’t feel like me spilling the beans and airing my views on all this is actually going to be what I should do. Doing that is only going to make the situation even more infected than it already is.
“As was the case when I resigned the Ryder Cup captaincy, I have my views on a lot of things that have gone on. But out of respect for a lot of people and what they do – and even those I don’t totally respect – there is no point in me digging any deeper.
“There is less than half a year until the Ryder Cup so it is best I don’t say much other than to say I’ve resigned.”
The former World No.1 played in five Ryder Cups for Europe and holed the winning putt for Ian Woosnam’s side at the K Club in 2006.
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Matt Chivers
Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.
Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.
Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.
Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sport.
Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.
What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.
