Henrik Stenson savages DP World Tour officials ahead of The Open: "How does that work?"

Henrik Stenson has blasted DP World Tour officials on the eve of The Open. 

In explosive comments to Telegraph Sport, the Swede complained that golfers who departed the establishment first have been treated differently than those that followed. 

Chief of his complaints is the fact he believes he was fined twice as much than Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton are being fined now. 

Stenson was among the first wave of defections to the breakaway LIV Golf League in 2022. 

Back then, the tour was simply referred to as the 'Saudi Golf League' and Stenson, for a short period, was the European Ryder Cup captain. 

But he was stripped of the honour following his decision to compete in LIV events. 

It was reported that he, along with the likes of Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia were being fined as much as £100,000 for competing in LIV events without tournament releases. 

After failing in a protracted legal battle (a panel made up of former high court judges sided with the Tour), the European old guard decided to give up their memberships.

Their decisions therefore brought a sad end to careers with their home circuit and froze them out of any leadership roles within Ryder Cup Europe. 

"Yeah, those of us who came over early have been treated differently to those who followed," Stenson told the paper. 

"I've been told that my fine for each individual LIV competition I played in before I resigned my membership are twice what Jon is getting now. 

"How does that work? Are they saying I am worth twice what Jon is? 

"It's the other way around, surely, if not more. That's a big compliment, if so. 

"It's about people at the top not losing face isn't it and yeah, about the Ryder Cup, too?"

Stenson said he believes decisions were made so the golfers could be 'made an example of'. 

That being said, he stated he has not given up hope of having a leadership role within Team Europe in the future. 

"Let's hope it all gets sorted," he said. 

The PGA Tour are continuing to discuss terms with LIV's backers to consummate last June's framework agreement. 

That five-page agreement, signed on 30 May 2023, set out how the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia would create a new entity to align men's golf by combining their commercial activities.

Tiger Woods suggested he was happy with how those talks were going in his pre-Open press conference, although he was light on the details. 

Elsewhere, the aforementioned Rahm has revealed that he may struggle to retain his DP World Tour membership. 

He said a complication with his wife's pregnancy means he doesn't know if he will be able to play DP World Tour events after LIV's season concludes. 

Rahm was previously told that providing he pays his fines and competes in a minimum of four DP World Tour events he would be eligible to play in the Ryder Cup next year. 

Stenson also told the paper this approach was not relayed to them. 

"Yeah, that was the risk we took," he said. 

"But to see others being treated now does not feel right."

Stenson, who memorably lifted the claret jug in 2016 after a battle for the ages against Phil Mickelson, has been handed at 12.42pm BST tee time alongside amateur Jacob Olesen and Rasmus Hojgaard. 

Mickelson is out at 2.04pm BST alongside Dustin Johnson and Joost Luiten. 

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