Henrik Stenson admits large cash provided by Saudi-backed LIV Golf performed a consider signing up

Henrik Stenson mentioned on Thursday that cash positively performed an element in his swap to the profitable Saudi-backed LIV Golf sequence and he had hoped to retain his Ryder Cup captaincy which he was stripped of final week.

Stenson had helped Europe to victory in three of his 5 Ryder Cup appearances as a participant however Ryder Cup Europe mentioned the 2016 British Open champion might not fulfil contractual obligations as captain after he joined LIV Golf.

The breakaway league has attracted lots of golf’s high gamers together with six-times main winner Phil Mickelson and former world quantity ones Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka. Stenson mentioned the cash on provide satisfied him to hitch them.

‘I have been a golf skilled since very late 1998 and purse sizes, prize cash on provide, monetary half’s all the time been part of the place we made up our schedules and the place we’re going to play,’ Sweden’s Stenson instructed reporters.

‘It has been part of it, completely. It was no totally different on this case.’

Stenson is taking part in within the third LIV Golf match of the season which begins on Friday in New Jersey at Trump Nationwide Golf Membership Bedminster.

Critics of the brand new sequence say it quantities to ‘sportswashing’ by a nation attempting to enhance its popularity in mild of its historical past of human rights abuses.

LIV Golf CEO and former world primary Greg Norman has mentioned the brand new sequence affords gamers ‘free company’ and followers an thrilling new manner of watching golf.

LIV Golf CEO and Greg Norman mentioned the brand new league would profit followers and gamers

When requested if it was a very good look when he knew he must hand over the Ryder Cup captaincy, Stenson mentioned he made each effort to retain it.

‘I do not really feel like I’ve given it up. I made each association doable right here to have the ability to fulfil my captain’s duties, and I’ve had nice assist right here from LIV to have the ability to try this,’ Stenson mentioned.

‘And nonetheless the choice was made that I used to be to be eliminated. I am clearly disenchanted over the scenario however it’s what it’s and we transfer on from there now.

‘We had discussions and I knowledgeable them of the choice to go and play in LIV tournaments. They’d a brief time period the place they have been form of discussing or debating if what was going to occur. I used to be knowledgeable of their choice shortly after.’

Stenson admitted he hoped to retain the Ryder Cup captaincy regardless of controversial choice

Stenson, nevertheless, mentioned he hoped for a ‘fast answer’ earlier than the rift between the game’s high gamers and match organisers widened.

‘I clearly really feel prefer it’s a disgrace that we ended up on this scenario. I simply hope that we are able to get a decision as quickly as doable right here for all excursions and everybody concerned, and we are able to all form of co-exist collectively,’ Stenson added.

‘All of the gamers love The Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup, it is only a disgrace we ended up on this scenario.’