WATCH: Henrik Stenson reacts to reporter's 'outcast' question at LIV Golf London

Axed European Ryder Cup captain Henrik Stenson was asked if he deserved to be treated like an outcast amid the PGA Tour's deal with LIV Golf's backers. 

WATCH: Henrik Stenson reacts to reporter's 'outcast' question at LIV Golf London
WATCH: Henrik Stenson reacts to reporter's 'outcast' question at LIV Golf…

Axed European Ryder Cup captain Henrik Stenson says he's not dwelling on what has transpired in the world of men's professional golf over the last 12 months amid an agreement that has brought LIV Golf, the PGA Tour and DP World Tour together. 

Stenson was sacked from the role after just four months in charge and faced a barrage of criticism for joining the breakaway tour for a fee said to be in the region of $40m. 

In the immediate aftermath of being stripped of the role Padraig Harrington blasted the Swede for 'doing what he said he wouldn't do'. 

The fallout for Stenson, 47, was swift and unrelenting. Last September, the Swedish Golf Federation severed their ties with the golfer, saying the 2016 Open winner wasn't a good role model. 

Related: Sergio Garcia out of The Open

Like the rest of the LIV players, Stenson has been accused of normalising the brutal regime of Saudi Arabia through sportswashing. 

But after the about-face management policy of the European-based DP World Tour and PGA Tour, there is a contention by some that Stenson shouldn't have been treated like a pariah or an outcast after all. 

Stenson faced the media alongside Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter - who opened up on their decision to skip Open qualifying - and made it clear he wanted to focus on the here and now. And the future. 

Given what has happened, should Stenson be treated as an outcast? 

WATCH: Henrik Stenson reacts to reporter's 'outcast' question at LIV Golf London

He told the ahead of LIV Golf London:

"Yeah, I mean, things could have worked out differently. It worked out the way it did.
"But instead of maybe dwelling on that too much, let's look ahead to what's ahead of us and what can be instead. Still, we're in a position where we don't know too much at the moment on what's going to happen. We could stand here and speculate for hours. I'm not going to do that. I've got putting practice, as well, to do, and there's others that are better at speculating than myself, I think.
"I'll leave that side a little bit, but just looking ahead, I think it's good for the game where we're at at the moment when things have calmed down a little bit and we can start looking ahead instead, and hopefully there will be a better future in that sense.
"We'll see where it takes us. We wish the guys all the best at this point, and hopefully we can all come together going forward."

Watch:

Despite what has happened, the aforementioned Westwood confirmed he will be watching the Ryder Cup later this year. 

"Like Henrik said, I'll certainly be cheering Luke and his team on come September," Westwood said.  "I wore the European flag with pride 11 times, and I'll be hoping that they play great and win in September."

Watched our latest YouTube video?

More news!

Sponsored Posts