Henrik Stenson

The Swede, nicknamed “The Iceman,” is set to play in the $3 million event at The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton—marking his debut on the over-50s circuit just days after celebrating his 50th birthday on April 5.

It will be Stenson’s first competitive start since being relegated from the LIV Golf League at the end of the 2025 season. The five-time Ryder Cup player finished 49th in the individual standings, falling short of retaining his place in the breakaway circuit he joined in 2022.

Stenson’s move to LIV Golf came at a cost, as he lost his role as European Ryder Cup captain for the 2023 edition shortly after signing.

Now, the 2016 Open champion begins a new chapter in his career. The 86th edition of the Senior PGA Championship promises a stacked field, underlining its status as the most prestigious major in senior golf. This year’s lineup includes 11 past Senior PGA champions, 21 major winners, seven World Golf Hall of Famers, and 10 former Ryder Cup captains.

Among the notable names joining Stenson in the field are defending champion Ángel Cabrera, along with major winners Michael Campbell, Stewart Cink, Darren Clarke, John Daly, Ernie Els, Pádraig Harrington, Retief Goosen, Zach Johnson, Bernhard Langer, Vijay Singh, and Mike Weir.

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Well, maybe once.

Before Mickelson finished third in the 2004 Open Championship at Royal Troon, his record in golf’s oldest major was, to put it mildly, awful. In 11 starts prior to 2004, the then Masters champion had missed the cut twice amid a run that included a T-73, a T-66 and a T-59. His best finish was T-11 at St. Andrews in 2000. Hardly what one might expect from one so obviously gifted. Clearly, there was a problem.

“It took me so long to figure out links because it’s not the style of golf I played growing up,” said Mickelson, who spoke with Golf Digest on Tuesday. “No one showed me how to do it. Sometimes you need someone to do that, even when it is so obvious. Sometimes you just overlook things. That was me back then.”

The key for golf’s greatest-ever left-hander was ball-flight. While Mickelson had obviously been capable of hitting shots low prior to 2004, he did so with excess spin that made control a lot more difficult, especially in the heavy winds that typically prevail on U.K. seaside courses. So it was that, with the help of coach Dave Pelz, Mickelson set about fixing his fault.

And by the time he reached Troon, he was ready.

“2004 was the first time I had worked with Dave and figured out how to take spin off my shots and hit the ball lower with control,” he says. “I had a really good season in 2004, missing the playoff here by a shot. It was the first time I was able to flight the ball properly without so much spin and so I had a real idea where the ball was going to end up, both off the tee and into the greens. When I mastered that it represented the first time I was able to play links golf effectively.

“That fact gave me a lot more confidence,” he continues. “I had so many more shots in my arsenal, which helped me in the States, too. Getting to back pins was so much easier for me. I remember playing the 13th at Pebble Beach and being capable of hitting my approaches close to the back-left pin that had always frustrated me. I made birdie there both times I won the AT&T in 2012 and 2019. And I did it by hitting a 7-iron from only 128-yards out. That was a shot I learned for playing over here.”

Of course, Mickelson’s affinity for Troon was further enhanced by his participation in what has to be one of the Open’s most famous duels. In 2016, the by-then five-time major champion (including the 2013 Open at Muirfield) shot 17 under par for four rounds—and didn’t win. Henrik Stenson, enjoying the week of his life, shot 20 under to claim the claret jug by three.

“I just played so well in 2016,” says Mickelson, his voice still betraying hints of regret eight years on. “It was some of the best golf I ever played. I had so much control of my ball, even in strong crosswinds and the heavy air you get over here. This is a tough course, and you have to be very precise. I was that week and gave myself a lot of opportunities. But for the first time in my career, I played my best golf and it wasn’t enough. I took some positives and negatives from that. It was a shot to my ego. I had always assumed that my best golf would win. But that week I played as well as I could and came up short.”

Despite shooting 17 under for the tournament, Mickelson still lost by three to Stenson at Troon in 2016. “It was a shot to my ego,” Mickelson says. “I had always assumed that my best golf would win. But that week I played as well as I could and came up short.”
Warren Little/R&A

This time round, Mickelson arrives on the back of run of form that is unlikely to see too many punters rushing to any of Troon’s bookmaking establishments; in 10 LIV Golf starts in 2024, he’s finished inside the top 20 just once and has two missed cuts and a T-43 in the three majors. But that may be an oversight. Already the oldest man ever to win a major championship, Mickelson feels age is less of a factor than it might be. Then there is his obvious affection for the course this week. Knowing without question that you are playing somewhere that has previously produced good results is a valuable—albeit intangible—asset for every golfer.

As usual too, Mickelson is making positive noises, although he isn’t prepared to reveal all of his “secrets.”

“This week I’m actually trying to do a lot of the things I did to prepare in 2016,” he reveals. “I’m getting ready to hit in a lot of slice-winds. I’ve worked a lot on hitting draws back into that breeze, which is exactly what I did eight years ago. There are holes out there that allow me to take advantage of being left-handed and be a little more aggressive. They are just a little more comfortable for me. Then again, there are some holes that are the opposite. On those, I have to be a little more defensive and careful.

“I see the breaks on the greens so I’m able to putt well,” he continues. “I like the type of shots I can hit into the greens. There are a couple of nuances to this course that I’ve learned from my time practising here. That makes some of the difficult shots easier. To be honest though, I’ve been working hard on every aspect of my game. The Open is the complete test of your golf skills. The only thing that isn’t so demanding here is length off the tee. It doesn’t matter, especially on the front nine. As I said it’s all about controlling the flight of the ball. That’s the thing you absolutely must have. You have to be able to shape shots with ways into the wind. An incredible touch around the greens doesn’t hurt either.”

All of that sounds a lot like vintage Mickelson. Whether he has one more great week in him at the highest level remains to be seen, of course. But it would be dangerous indeed to write him off completely.

“I’m having a lot of fun right now,” he claims. “I’m making progress. And this is a course that allows my game to flourish. I really don’t feel I have anything to prove. Regardless of what people might be saying about me, I have a love of playing golf. I love to compete and contend. That’s why I’m working hard. Being a part of these major championships means a lot to me.”

Main Image: Warren Little / R&A

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The eighth edition in December 2023 was the first time the tournament featured as a fully sanctioned Asian Tour event and saw Thai rising star Denwit Boriboonsub finish on 18-under-par, three shots ahead of 2016 Open Championship winner Stenson. The 20-year-old has confirmed he will return to defend his title when the Asian Tour tees off after a five-week break in the Saudi Arabian capital.

Building on last year’s successful hosting, the 2024 Saudi Open presented by PIF will once again see a strong LIV Golf contingent battle for the trophy as Andy Ogletree, Peter Uihlein, Eugenio Chacarra and David Puig join Majesticks joint-team captain Stenson and his former European Ryder Cup teammate Cabrero-Bello in Riyadh.

Puig, who won the season-opening Malaysian Open, currently tops the Asian Tour Order of Merit ahead of second placed John Catlin from the United States – winner of the recent International Series Macau presented by Wynn, where he shot the Tour’s first ever 59.

Golf Saudi will again show their commitment to ensuring opportunities for everyone with a number of spots reserved for invites for local Saudi and Arab golfers to compete in the tournament.

Henrik Stenson – Asian Tour

Stenson, who, after catapulting himself into second place with a final round 65 at the 2023 Saudi Open presented by PIF, is determined to go one better and lift the trophy this time. The strong field assembled this year promises to be a thrilling competition.

Stenson said: “I am thrilled to be returning to Riyadh to play in the Saudi Open. I loved the atmosphere on my first visit to what is an incredible golf course, and I am very excited to experience that again.

“The facilities are highly impressive and highlight the strides that golf in Saudi Arabia continues to make. I am expecting another very strong and testing tournament against a field full of quality players, but I am eager to go one better than last year and lift the trophy.”

Asian Tour Commissioner & CEO Cho Minn Thant added: “We are delighted to be going back to Riyadh for the Saudi Open presented by PIF.

“The event proved an excellent addition to the Asian Tour having been elevated from the Asian Development Tour, and Riyadh Golf Club provided us with a perfect setting to end 2023. In Golf Saudi, we have a trusted partner who we are confident will deliver another fantastic tournament.”

The Saudi Open presented by PIF is the fifth stop of the season on the Asian Tour.

Images: Asian Tour

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So, forgive McIlroy (or not) for letting off a little steam when someone pitched him a slow softball Saturday on X (formerly Twitter). In a discussion referencing McIlroy’s Ryder Cup concern, golf data guru Lou Stagner, of Arccos, posted, “I wonder if @McIlroyRory also wants to change the rules so Stenson can captain the team?”

The query—in reference to Henrik Stenson being stripped of his captaincy for the 2023 matches because he joined LIV in 2022—was likely facetious and probably rhetorical. But McIlroy, being the avid reader he is, saw the comment and responded on Saturday by taking a shot at the Swede.

“The best thing to happen to the 2023 Euro Ryder cup [sic] team was Henrik going to LIV!” McIlroy said.

A sly joke or a not-so-subtle dig? Who knows, but it helps McIlroy’s case that the Europeans blasted the Americans 16½-11½ at Marco Simone in Italy with Luke Donald at the helm for the winning side. And, in fact, the Englishman was so well-regarded for how he handle the team that he’d been tabbed to return as the captain the for 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.

I wonder if @McIlroyRory also wants to change the rules so Stenson can captain the team? https://t.co/d0wpP94KqX

— Lou Stagner (Golf Stat Pro) (@LouStagner) December 9, 2023

Stenson, of course, was disappointed to lose his captaincy, though the five-time Ryder Cup player had to know that he was taking that chance when he signed with LIV.

“I’m just disappointed that with everything that came out because there was a big willingness on my part to sit down and talk long before this thing got to where it got to,” Stenson said in an interview after the final round of this year’s Open Championship. “There were certain people, without naming names, that didn’t want to sit down and take those meetings. As a consequence, I feel like we ended up in all of this that could have been avoided. But we live, and we learn.”

Stenson reportedly got a $50 million contract from LIV and two weeks after he was removed as Ryder Cup captain, he won his LIV debut at Trump Bedminster to claim the $4 million first prize. In 13 events this past season, Stenson notched three top-10s.

Image: Christian Petersen

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“It is sad that it has come to this,” the 47-year old Swede told 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.

“When Richard Bland, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Sergio Garcia resigned last week, the tour said they would have a statement the next day,” Stenson continued. “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.”

As to how much he was going to be fined and/or suspended, Stenson, who is fifth on the DP World Tour career money-list with almost 30 million euros in earnings, was unable to give exact figures.

“I haven’t added up the numbers on how much I was fined,” he said. “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.”

It is, of course, less than a year since Stenson was removed from his position as European Ryder Cup captain in the wake of his switch to LIV Golf. He will also take no part in next month’s Scandinavian Mixed in his home nation. For the last two years, the 2016 Open champion has been the face of that event alongside compatriot Annika Sorenstam.

Still, for all his obvious sadness at this somewhat inevitable turn of events, Stenson was able to raise at least one smile.

“I look back on my 23 years on tour and at least I know that I closed with a 64 on Sunday in Dubai (where he finished T-8 in January’s Desert Classic),” he said. “That’s not the worst way to go out.”

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Henrik Stenson and Paul Casey are reportedly among the latest stars set to resign from the DP World Tour — taking the total of high-profile LIV Golf players either having already walked away from the old European Tour or about to in the immediate future to nine.

Last week, four long-standing members — Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood, Richard Bland and Ian Poulter — quit the circuit with the threat of incremental fines of up to $630,000 for DP World Tour card holders who continue to participate on the LIV Golf Circuit.

Now The Telegraph has reported that Swede Stenson, England’s Casey, Germany’s Martin Kaymer, and South African duo Charl Schwartzel and Brandon Grace are set to follow suit.

Paul Casey

All DP World Tour members who have competed on LIV Golf since its inaugural event in London last June are in breach of the tour’s tournament release regulation and so are liable to the sanctions imposed on members in breach of that rule.

Following the DP World Tour’s fine and suspension of 17 members who moved to the new circuit last June for the inaugural LIV Golf event in London, a group of players led by Adrian Otaegui, Poulter and Justin Harding filed an appeal against the DP World Tour. The LIV members were granted an injunction to enter the Genesis Scottish Open, pending a full hearing before the arbitration panel in February, which voted in favour of the DP World Tour.

The move to quit the DP World Tour means LIV Golfers will not face any more fines in the future for continuing to compete on the new series.

Martin Kaymer

However, it also rules out any future Ryder Cup participation for the European contingent, with Stenson — who was stripped of the Team Europe captaincy after he switched — Kaymer and Casey all having featured prominently in the biennial tournament along with Poulter, Garcia and Westwood.

New Ryder Cup skipper Luke Donald recently admitting his sadness at the departure of the initial trio of Westwood, Poulter and Garcia. “It is a shame,” he said. “They’ve got a lot of history when it comes to the Ryder Cup. Ultimately this is their choice and I wish them well.”

Rory McIlroy, a Ryder Cup teammate of all the European players, echoed that sentiment: saying: “I think it’s a shame that you’ve got the highest points score ever in the Ryder Cup [Garcia] and two guys that, when they look back on their career, that’s probably going to be at least a big chunk of their legacy is the roles that they have played in the Ryder Cup for Europe [Westwood and Poulter] … But at the end of the day that was their choice.”

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“I haven’t given myself a gold watch just yet,” the Majesticks GC co-captain said in his typical wry approach. “But yeah, it’s a little frightening, isn’t it?”

Not sure about the frightening part, but he certainly has packed a lot of success in those first 24 seasons. A major victory (Sweden’s first for a male golfer), an Olympic silver medal, 22 career wins across six different tours/leagues, and no less than 17 appearances representing either his country or Europe in team competitions. And of course, a statement victory in his LIV Golf debut last year at Bedminster.

He already has met the criteria for World Golf Hall of Fame consideration, and he’ll be eligible for inclusion by voters once he turns 50 in 2026. Yet much like his 25th pro anniversary, he hasn’t given it any thought.

“To be honest, I don’t even know what the qualifications are for the Hall of Fame,” Stenson said. “But if I’ve met them, that obviously tells me I played some pretty darn good golf in my career, which I know I have done. My record stands as is, no matter what.”

When he started back in 1999, he couldn’t conceive of that longevity. He remembers those early years, playing with experienced Europeans and asking them how long they had been professionals on tour. He recalled one of the players telling him 14 years.

“You’re thinking, oh man, 14 years. That’s so long,” Stenson recalled. “And now I’m touching 25 years as a pro. Time flies. It’s been incredible. I know I’m kind of on the back nine of my career but hopefully we’ve got some more good years in there.”

Majesticks’ Ian Poulter. LIV Golf

His Majesticks teammates — Englishmen Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Sam Horsfield — certainly believe Stenson remains one of LIV Golf’s most dangerous threats. And the set-up of the Majesticks GC team should serve them well in 2023.

Stenson, Westwood and Poulter are co-captains, which means the three veteran European stars will have a stake in the success of the Majesticks, both on and off the course. Their play will help determine how well the team performs inside the ropes. Meanwhile, their business acumen will also come into play as the principal decision-makers signing off on such things as sponsorship opportunities, staffing hires and merchandising.

“We’re kind of part-owners in our team,” Stenson said, “so it becomes natural that we share the captaincy and the duties that go with it.”

The Majesticks are unique in that they are the only team out of the 12 in LIV Golf to have multiple captains. But given the credentials of Stenson, Westwood and Poulter – three players who have extensive Ryder Cup experience – it’s a perfect arrangement for a team that reached the podium three times during the regular season in 2022 but remains in search of their first team victory.

Henrik Stenson on the podium at LIV Golf Bedminster

Cumulatively, the three players have 83 worldwide titles, have participated in 23 Ryder Cups and have won tournaments on basically every tour — including, of course, Stenson’s LIV Golf win as the Majesticks finished second that week at Bedminster. Each has been ranked inside the world’s top 5 at one point, with Westwood a former No. 1. Stenson spent 24 weeks at No. 2 across the 2014-15 calendar.

No other trio of players on any other team bring such similar resumes. And with Poulter having just turned 47, Stenson turning 47 in early April and Westwood turning 50 just three weeks later, no other team can match their experience either. Add the fact that they’ve known each other and played alongside and against each other for decades, and it’s definitely an advantage the Majesticks look to tap into in 2023.

“We’ll have a shared kind of responsibility,” said Stenson, who already has made three starts this season in the Middle East. “If you look at it normally, there’s one captain and three players that kind of play underneath him. The captain is expected to take a bit more responsibility and try and cheer the guys up and bring everyone together. And that’s the whole thing with the team golf that we’ve now entered, you try to get more out of each other than you would individually, to be better together as four players.

“We’ve got some great people involved with our team and we’re all striving to go in the same direction and get the most of our golf games … I think we’ve got a big advantage of being three captains and being such a tight group.”

Lee Westwood, Henrik Stenson and Ian Poulter are seen talking in the locker room during day three of the LIV Golf Invitational in Bedminster. Jared C. Tilton/LIV Golf

Before Stenson joined the team, the Majesticks roster was filled with four Englishman. That made them the most popular team at the first tournament, LIV Golf London, in the inaugural season. Some of the Majesticks apparel was sold out by the end of the week.

The arrival of the Swedish great gave the Majesticks a broader European flavour, and the team plan to work hard on extending their fan base. Westwood and Poulter were among the first players to don team logos during competition, and their presence on social media channels also increased the team’s popularity. Stenson and Poulter combined for the team’s promo launch and pick-my-team videos entering this season.

Stenson is intrigued by the opportunity to attract team fans, as well as the potential to increase the charitable aspects for each Majesticks player. He remains committed to his own foundation, and growing the game in Sweden with his junior golf and para-golf endeavours.

“To really incorporate that with the charitable arm within our team, we’ll have both the opportunities and the ideas to do more on that,” he said.

Meanwhile, inside the ropes, Stenson looks forward to LIV Golf League’s landmark season with its full scope of 14 tournaments across the globe. Much like other LIV members, he finds himself looking at leaderboards and checking out the scores of his teammates as opposed to worrying how he stands individually.

He’s intrigued by the dynamics of the team competition, with the top three scores in each round counting on the team leaderboard. The top three teams on the final leaderboard earn bonuses from the $5 million team purse for each event.

Stenson said the competition within a team can be just as engaging as the competition against outsiders.

“You live and breath a little bit on how they are getting on,” he said of his teammates. “If all the other three guys are playing well, then you don’t want to be the fourth one. You kind of have that little friendly rivalry with the team. You don’t want be the worst one out there.”

Stenson was the best of all 48 players at Bedminster, so he’ll be the defending champion there when LIV Golf Bedminster returns August 11-13. He also has the benefit of winning a matchplay event in 2007 at The Gallery South Course, the host site of LIV Golf Tucson. In addition, Poulter and Westwood have both won at Valderrama in Spain, another new LIV Golf venue in 2023. Poulter also has won at Sentosa, the host course for LIV Golf Singapore.

Suffice to say, the Majesticks will have a certain comfort level at multiple LIV Golf venues this year.

“Some golf courses are going to suit myself and my teammates better than others,” Stenson said. “I think Valderrama is definitely one that will suit us.”

In his 25th season, Stenson has earned the right to operate on familiar ground, even as the LIV Golf League he’s now a member of is just in its infancy. He’s still hunting trophies, both team and individual. And the building of Majesticks offers a new challenge, inside and outside the ropes.

It promises to be a busy season for the Swede, but he’s ready for it. And no gold watch needed to keep him on schedule.

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As just about everyone expected, of course, Donald and Stenson’s proximity to each other was never really going to amount to anything even mildly controversial. The pair have been friendly for years — in 2006 they played on the same Ryder Cup side — and their Sunday morning stroll around the Emirates Golf Club was just that.

So it was all straight-faced stuff, even if the third member of the group, Tyrrell Hatton, did attempt to inject some humour into the occasion the evening before with a light-hearted tweet involving the Simpsons and him disappearing into a bush if the Ryder Cup did happen to come up in conversation.

If the @rydercup is mentioned in my group tomorrow morning https://t.co/MN1ABmmyCF

— Tyrrell Hatton (@TyrrellHatton) January 28, 2023

“Just a bit of fun,” said the World No. 26. “It went down pretty well. There was never anything negative there. I was just minding my own business and trying not to get in anyone’s way.”

There was another bit of fun on the first tee though. Donald, as you might expect, was introduced as the “Ryder Cup captain.” As Stenson noted after completing a two-under-par 70 that will see him safely into Monday’s final round: “The only thing I would say is that I was surprised I wasn’t announced as the former captain.”

Henrik Stenson and Luke Donald in Dubai

Donald, too, was playing the predictable straight bat to any enquiries at the end of a round in which the former World No. 1 would have lost, 4&3, had he and his predecessor been playing a match.

“No, there were no problems at all,” he said after the 74 that saw him miss the 54-hole cut and sent him to the airport en route to a day at home in England then on to California and this week’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. “You guys like to make it a storm in a teacup. There were no issues. It was just like we were playing a normal round.”

Despite the potential for awkwardness given what happened with the Ryder Cup captaincy, Henrik Stenson and Luke Donald got along fine as they played the third round together at the Dubai Desert Classic on Sunday.

Not quite though. On the 18th hole there was just time for Hatton to inject some proper fun and games into the proceedings. Two -over par for the day and level-par for the tournament, the six-time DP World Tour champion was mentally joining Donald on the plane back to England. A double-bogey 6 on the par-4 16th and a missed four-footer on the 17th for birdie were sure indications of a man whose head was focused on something other than the prospect of playing the a weather-delayed final round on Monday.

So it was that, even after an almost perfect drive across the corner and a beautifully flighted fairway wood to the heart of the distant green, Hatton was looking good to miss the cut.

Then it happened. With nary a glance at the line, the two-time Ryder Cup player struck his 50-foot eagle putt towards the flagstick. And, you guessed it, in it went, provoking comical scenes involving Hatton and his caddie, Mick Donaghy. Head in his hands, Hatton looked towards Donaghy, who could only shake his head. Moments later, the sight of the player, his arm over his bagman’s shoulder, whispering words of consolation is one every witness will surely recall with glee.

“What were you thinking?” had been Donaghy’s first question. “Why didn’t you leave it short?” was the obvious follow-up.

“I’m sorry,” replied a crestfallen Hatton. “I didn’t think of that until after I hit it.”

At this point, Donaghy’s curse-laden rejoinder must remain secret. Words like those have no place in any public forum.

Even worse was to follow though. Standing behind the 18th green, one of Hatton’s agents announced he had just spent £3,000 changing his man’s flight home. Evidence is scant, but it is safe to assume the news was not met with anything close to equanimity by the often-explosive Englishman.

“I’m pretty sad about it,” said Hatton, as he walked to his car after a few minutes cooling off in the locker room. “Making that cut has just potentially cost me 48 hours at home. I was mentally at home yesterday. I was hoping the guys would make sure I could get home. I just crept into this morning. That is probably the only 50-foot putt I wish I’d never made in my life. I’m going back to the hotel and hoping there is a very slim chance I can leave, depending on what the guys do. Hopefully it works out my way and I can get home.”

Sadly, it wasn’t to be. On that two-under par number, Hatton made the cut and will tee-up early in Monday’s final round.

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Back in January 2022, of course, Stenson was merely the most prominent candidate looking to succeed Padraig Harrington as skipper of the 2023 European team. This time, he stood in place as the deposed captain, having been given the job then asked to leave when he made his decision to play on the LIV Golf League.

RELATED: Poulter rages at Sweden’s dumping of Stenson
Stenson comes out swinging at LIV Golf Chicago

He hasn’t lost his renowned sense of humour though. The former Open champion had a good laugh at the opening question: “So last year you shot 65. Today, you shot 66. What has gone wrong in the last year?”

More seriously, Stenson discussed his week in the UAE, what was also his first trip back to the DP World Tour since the Genesis Scottish Open last July. Two weeks after that, he was stripped of the captaincy, having committed what many on the DP World Tour see as a heinous betrayal.

“It’s been fun to catch up with a lot of the other players and people on this tour,” said Stenson, who finished in a tie for 20th, 10-under par and eight shots back of winner Victor Perez. “I’ve played and lived in this region for so many years. I know a lot of people and hadn’t seen many of them since last summer. No one has stepped up to my face and told me they have a problem with me.

“I actually wasn’t worried about that,” he continued. “I’ve been on good terms with most people for a long time. They might have different opinions, but if that difference is going to get in the way of friendships or relationships then so be it. I like to think I can still sit down and have a chat with anyone. If that changes, it’s not really my worry. There are enough people in the phone book if I need to find someone to have a chat with. So if someone has an issue with me, fine. But it’s not on me.”

Neither is the result of the arbitration case next month that will decide whether or not Stenson and his fellow LIV players will be allowed to compete on the DP World Tour going forward.

“I’ll be watching the arbitration case with interest,” he admitted. “I’m not going to guess on the result. But it will be interesting to see what comes after it. I still want to play on this tour. In my mind, nothing has changed from when I started playing on multiple tours. I’ve always supported Europe. It’s been a big part of my career. Nothing will ever change that. In fact, I could see me playing here more often than in past years if it turns out I can. It’s all a tangle at the moment though.”

And the Ryder Cup? How is he going to feel siting home watching on television, knowing that it could have been him, not Luke Donald, leading Europe into battle?

“I’ve watched Ryder Cups before, those I haven’t played in,” he said. “And, of course, there will be some emotions involved for me this year. But if I go out and win the Open Championship again and do well elsewhere, I might qualify. It’s not impossible. And it would certainly be the irony of ironies. But until we know exactly what is happening, no one can say what the situation is going to be. I’m not a guy who wants to guess.”

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But now he’s back.

Stenson, along with 11 other players who have teed-up at least once on the LIV Golf tour (a list that includes Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Patrick Reed, Bernd Wiesberger and Adrian Otaegui), appear on the entry list for the upcoming Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. The $9 million tournament, set for January 19-22 and one of the DP World Tour’s big-money Rolex Series events, is where the tour begins its 2023 season. Somewhat ironically, Stenson’s replacement as Ryder Cup captain, former World No. 1 Luke Donald, also will take his place at Yas Links in the UAE capital.

RELATED: Stenson offers to take lie-detector test

All of which will take place exactly 12 months after Stenson was coy in talking to Golf Digest at this same event about the possibility of even being offered the Ryder Cup captaincy.

“It’s good to be in the mix as a potential captain,” he said then. “I’ll have to wait and see though. I haven’t had any discussions with those making the decision. But I think it is important that anyone in contention for the job knows what he is signing up for. You have to know how many days, weeks and months are involved. There is so much that goes with the captaincy. It’s not just showing up in Rome to kiss the Ryder Cup for a few days.”

Just two months after making those comments, the five-time Ryder Cup player was named captain after his assurance that he would not move to LIV Golf. When he did just that after the Open Championship at St Andrews, DP World Tour chief executive Keith Pelley acted swiftly to remove him from the non-playing role at the Marco Simone Country Club in Italy this September.

When Donald’s appointment was announced, the Englishman had this to say: “I will live up to my word and see it through. I will not do a Henrik.”

So it will be the presence of the former Open champion in Abu Dhabi in two weeks’ time will provoke the most interest and, in turn, most controversy. Again though, Stenson’s return to his former fold is perhaps not too much of a shock. One week after the Abu Dhabi event the DP World Tour will make the short hop to Dubai for the Hero Dubai Desert Classic (no entry field has been listed yet for that event). And one week after that there is every chance that the Swede (and many of his fellow LIV players) will join Open champion Cam Smith in Saudi Arabia for the Saudi International, not an official LIV event but part of the Asian Tour that has close financial connections with the new circuit.

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