Henrik Stenson has been confirmed as Team Europe’s captain for the 2023 Ryder Cup as the team seek revenge against their American counterparts.
Team Europe's official twitter account confirmed the news with a short clip followed by a short statement from the Swede on Tuesday. “Henrik Stenson. 2023, European Ryder Cup champion,” he said, with the European flag wrapped around him. The 45-year-old was a vice-captain under Padraig Harrington for Europe’s humbling 19-9 defeat to the United States at Whistling Straits last September.
Now he has been promoted ahead of next year’s tournament in Italy and is ready to lead the team in the best way possible. “I am absolutely thrilled and delighted to be the European Ryder Cup captain – it is a huge honour and I was humbled to get the call confirming the news,” Stenson added.
“I would like to thank the selection panel for believing in me and will say to them, and every European golf fan, that I will do everything in my power and leave no stone unturned in the quest to get the Ryder Cup back in European hands.”
The golf star is the first Swedish player to captain Team Europe and has a respectable record at the event - winning 11 points from his 19 matches. Stenson made his Ryder Cup debut in 2006 with his last appearance coming in 2018.
“The Ryder Cup is golf, and sport, at its very best,” he added. “I got goosebumps every time I pulled on a European shirt as a player and that will be magnified in the role of captain.
“When I started out as a professional golfer, it was beyond my wildest dreams that, one day, I would follow in the footsteps of legends of the game such as Seve (Ballesteros) and be the European Ryder Cup captain. “But today proves that, sometimes, dreams do come true.”
The 2016 Open champion was said to have held discussions with Ryder Cup director Guy Kinnings and the DP World Tour’s chief executive Keith Pelley at the Players Championship prior to the announcement being made.
“Henrik has all the qualities to be a great captain,” Kinnings said following the announcement. The news has certainly fuelled excitement ahead of the event next year in Rome as Europe and America's finest get ready to battle it out.
“He has an incredibly impressive golfing CV as a major champion, two-time European number one and FedEx Cup winner, and in the Ryder Cup he played five times and played with distinction, including holing the winning putt in 2006 at the K Club.
“So he comes with all the credibility of what he has achieved, and as we all know a dry a sense of humour and a fantastic warm personality, but he is also a ferocious competitor.“He is hugely respected by the players and admired by everyone involved with the game and the Ryder Cup.”
Last month Zach Johnson was announced as captain of Team USA for next year’s event. He replaces Steve Stricker who led his side to their first Ryder Cup victory since 2016 last year.
