Henrik Stenson is set to be unveiled as the latest name to turn their back on the PGA Tour in favour of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series - and the Swede will be stripped of his Ryder Cup captaincy with immediate effect, prompting a frantic search for his replacement.
On Monday, the Telegraph revealed that the DP World Tour had arranged to meet with Stenson on Tuesday amid the rumours that clouded the Open at St Andrews last week. It was assumed that Stenson would ask about the plausibility of fulfilling his duties as Ryder Cup captain in Rome next year while also playing in the LIV Series.
In March, he signed a contract in March that stipulated he could not play on the breakaway league but Ian Poulter’s recent court case led to an injunction to allow the Englishman to play in the Scottish Open - which suggests Stenson might have been able to play both. Stenson will reportedly soon be unveiled on the LIV roster, and DP World Tour CEO Keith Pelley will want to line up a replacement as quickly as possible.
Europe has already lost the likes of Poulter, Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia and Graeme McDowell as potential future captains after their move to LIV Golf and the primary objective among Team Europe will be to steady the ship. So, who are the leading options?
Well, Thomas Bjorn - the victorious 2018 captain - could be the man to step up. The 51-year-old has experience in the role and is a strong personality with unwavering loyalty, a trait sorely needed in such time.
The Dane was already named a vice-captain for 2023, but he has the necessary experience and has been vice-captain on five occasions including next year's event with Europe winning three of such editions of the biennial tournament.
Another name in the mix is Englishman Luke Donald. He reportedly pushed Stenson close in the race to be named captain, but ultimately missed out.
The 44-year-old has played in four Ryder Cups and never lost with his last appearance coming in the dramatic 2012 triumph at the Medinah Country Club. He was one of Europe's most reliable performers in those appearances, and should be considered a strong contender.
Robert Karlsson and Paul Lawrie should not be discounted, either. The Swede was vice-captain under Bjorn during the 2018 win, as well as the 2021 loss under Padraig Harrington, while Lawrie served as vice-captain in 2016.
Both men have played in two Ryder Cups, with Karlsson competing in back-to-back tournaments in 2006 and 2008. Lawrie’s most recent appearance came in 2012, and he has played on the Legends Tour since 2020 after recurring back problems.
Finally, Edoardo Molinari could be considered as Team Europe captain ahead of the event in his home country. The Italian was already a confirmed member of Stenson's backroom staff due to the Ryder Cup being played in Rome, and he could be promoted to captaincy role given his history at the tournament, where he was a member of the victorious 2010 team.
On paper, Stenson’s loss is not heavy given the 2016 Open champion and former World No.2 has struggled for form and is without a title in almost three years. However, LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman is proving the breakaway tour can reach anyone in the sport.
The 46-year-old’s dramatic move will be seen as a coup for the LIV Golf series as it seeks legitimacy. It is understood Stenson’s signing-on fee will be around £40 million, and he is set to make his debut at next week’s third £20m LIV event in New Jersey.
LIV named 45 of that 48-man field on Tuesday with no surprises but it is believed the missing three will be new names - including Stenson - with the starting sheet completed by Thursday. Several of the world’s most prominent players have decided to switch to LIV Golf, including the likes of Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka.
The second LIV Golf event took place in Portland, Oregon earlier this month and the field showcased nine of the last 21 major winners, four former World No. 1 players and nearly half of the field currently ranked in the top 100.Branden Grace, who became the first man to record a sub-63 score in a major when he shot a 62 (8-under-par) in the Open Championship in 2017, secured a two-stroke victory to earn a £3.37 million payout - more than the £2.08 million awarded to Australian Cameron Smith for securing the coveted Open title last week.
Who do you think will be unveiled as Europe's Ryder Cup captain? Let us know in the comments section.
The US have also lost stars - Johnson, Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Reed - who have been dealt bans and are therefore ineligible to play in Rome. It places the future of the biennial Ryder Cup in doubt, with so many big names keen to leave in the face of lucrative contracts bankrolled by a Saudi regime with renowned human rights abuses.
The 2002 US PGA champion Rich Been expressed dismay at the news Stenson had switched to LIV Golf. He said: “I’ve known Henrik for years and years but this is kind of disrespectful. What an honour to be bestowed on him. It doesn't get better than captaining your country or continent, does it?
“He’s doing it for the money. Let’s just say it. But couldn't he have made enough money as the Ryder Cup captain for a few years and then go? It doesn't feel at all right.”
