DANIEL MATTHEWS: Henrik Stenson’s controversial defection to LIV has already been rewarded with $4M in prize money after his Trump National triumph… he wasn’t poached to win tournaments, but this was the perfect result for golf’s grubby rebel tour
- Henrik Stenson was victorious in his first LIV Golf event in New Jersey on Sunday
- His defection to the breakaway has already been rewarded in $4m prize money
- The Swede could have won more if the Majesticks had not lost out to the 4 Aces
- The 46-year-old’s defection cost him the captaincy of Europe’s Ryder Cup team
And to think Henrik Stenson was supposed to have surrendered the chance to lead boys in blue in a tussle against America’s red tide. To think the Swede was accused of choosing cash over a shot at glory.
Turns out he can have both. Well, sort of.
It has been less than two weeks, but Stenson’s provocative defection to LIV Golf – which cost him the captaincy of Europe’s Ryder Cup team – has already been repaid with $4million (£3.6m) in prize money after he won the third instalment of this breakaway in Bedminster.
To put that in starker terms still: on Sunday Stenson earned nearly 24 times what he made over 13 PGA Tour events this season – $184,317 (£151,500).
The 46-year-old, who had not won a tournament since 2019, finished two shots clear of Matthew Wolff and Dustin Johnson after a final-round 69 to finish 11-under at Donald Trump’s New Jersey course.
That alone was worth $4m (£3.3m). He could have won $750,000 (£616,000) more, had his ‘Majesticks’ not lost out to ‘4 Aces’.
Henrik Stenson’s defection to LIV Gold has already been rewarded in £3.6million prize money
The Swede earned nearly 24 times what he made over 13 PGA Tour events this season
The 46-year-old finished two shots clear of Matthew Wolff and Dustin Johnson (pictured)
It was red vs blue atop LIV’s team leaderboard on Sunday but 4 Aces (fit with red logo and four Americans) pipped Majesticks’ bunch of Ryder Cup veterans – Stenson, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter. Oh, and Sam Horsfield to complete the European fourball.
So they had to settle for £308,000 ($375,000) apiece. No doubt Stenson’s £40m signing on fee will soften the blow.
Those numbers underscore the grubby excesses of golf’s rebel tour, where sport has often been swallowed by spats over Saudi Arabia and expensive washing machines.
The Majesticks team featuring Stenson, Lee Westwood (second left), Ian Poulter (left) and Sam Horsefield (right) were pipped in the team competition by Dustin Johnson’s all-American team
Former president Donald Trump turned the tournament at his Bedminster course into a rally
Never more so than here, where families of 9/11 victims protested and Trump turned this tournament into a political rally over 54 holes.
Some of the golf aside, it was all rather vulgar once more. For many, no amount of money or wins could ever vindicate Stenson’s decision. For LIV, however, this was the perfect climax. They didn’t poach Stenson to win tournaments. Only to prove they could.
Never would Greg Norman and Co have expected so much bang for their buck so quickly. Stenson hasn’t done too badly either.
And so, Europe’s deposed captain took his spot on the podium alongside Trump. Another remarkable image to add to the already bulging collection from this weekend and from this gaudy venture.
Greg Norman and Co would not have expected so much bang for their buck so quickly
Europe’s deposed captain took his spot on the podium in another remarkable image