Why Henrik Stenson offered this sarcastic response to Ryder Cup question
LIV Golf's Henrik Stenson smirked after he was asked a question about the European Ryder Cup team's secret weapon that paid dividends in Rome.
Henrik Stenson smirked and offered six words when he was asked about Luke Donald's secret weapon that paid dividends at the Ryder Cup.
That would be Edoardo 'Dodo' Molinari, the European stats man whom Donald lauded after Europe defeated Team USA by five points at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in September.
In truth it was a huge team effort but Dodo's influence was undeniable.
"This game is all about finding those incrementals," Donald said. "You add those all up and it results in a trophy for Europe."
Europe's masterplan was meticulously laid out.
Morning foursome pairings, afternoon fourball pairings, even the order in which they'd go out - was reportedly devised almost three weeks before a ball was struck.
Molinari later told Sky Sports he privately thought there was 'no way' the pairing of Ludvig Aberg and Viktor Hovland could be beaten in the foursomes.
The duo inflicted the largest defeat in a Ryder Cup ever over Brooks Koepka and Scottie Scheffler.
| Henrik Stenson says he isn't dwelling on what has transpired over the last 12 months when asked if he should or shouldn't have been treated like 'an outcast' amid the PGA Tour/PIF deal. pic.twitter.com/vb5KkF59AC
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Scheffler was left inconsolable after the 9&7 loss, sobbing in the back of a golf cart alongside his wife Meredith Scudder.
Yet it appears to have been somewhat overlooked that it was actually Stenson who named Dodo as a vice captain in the first place.
The Swede appointed Edoardo as his second vice after Thomas Bjorn before he was stripped off the captaincy owing to his decision to play in LIV Golf events.
"Thanks for giving me the credit," Stenson joked to Telegraph Sport.
He added: "But seriously, I'm just glad it went well and Edoardo's influence was felt. Edoardo obviously knows what it was like to play [in the 2010 Ryder Cup] but it was his use of stats that sets him apart. Hey, it’s nice to make some sort of contribution."
Stenson did not comment further on the Ryder Cup.
His Majesticks teammate Ian Poulter did, though. "I watched it of course," he told the paper.
"I'm not saying I set the alarm at 1.30am in Florida to get up when it started, but it was always on in the house and it was fabulous to see. I sent Luke and the players individual messages of congratulations.
"Europe have a great young team and it will be interesting to see how we do in New York in '25."
Poulter will be very much hoping by that point there will be peace in the world of men's professional golf.
How he would love to be part of that locker room once again.
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