No one has been notified by Sweden’s sole major winner Henrik Stenson about his possible connections to the Saudi Arabian project Super Golf League, which threatens to turn the sport of golf over.
When DN asks, his spokesperson answers that there is no time for an interview on the subject in the middle of the season.
John Huggan, European correspondent for the American golf magazine Golf Digest, had the opportunity to ask the Swede in Abu Dhabi in January. He got a small smile in response.
Another golferLee Westwood, has said he can not answer questions about the Super Golf League because he signed a non-disclosure agreement.
– They have written on a piece of paper that says they are not allowed to say anything about the Saudi league before it becomes a reality. I guess Henrik is in the same situation because he has been very quiet when he has been asked about the possibility of taking the step there, not only by me but others as well, says John Huggan, and continues:
– I have known him for a long time and he definitely talks to them. There have been discussions, you can probably assume that. Because if there had been no discussions, he would have said so.
The plans that Saudi Arabia has are about starting a new tour, with large compensation for the players. Both the US PGA Tour and the European Tour have strongly opposed the formation of the potential competitor.
Stars like Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods have said they will not take part in what they see as a sportswashing project by the Saudi regime. McIlroy has said that the planned breakaway league has already been sentenced to death as too few players line up.
Meanwhile, 51-year-old Phil Mickelson has been caught in a whirlwind after telling golf journalist Alan Shipnuck:
– We know that they (the Saudis) murdered (journalist Jamal) Khashoggi and that they have a terrible history when it comes to human rights. They execute people there because they are gay. When I know all this, why should I even consider it? Because it’s a “once in a lifetime” opportunity to change the way the PGA Tour works.
Saudi Arabia is also taking part in the war in Yemen, described by the UN as the worst in the world. The fact that the regime is behind it makes the golf project controversial.
At the same time as the future of the Saudi tour is uncertain, a captain will be named for next year’s Ryder Cup, the traditional competition between an American and a European team with the best men’s players from the two continents.
Henrik Stenson is considered to be one of the main favorites for the job after Lee Westwood refused.
Although it is a long way to the Ryder Cup, a captain is usually appointed at this time. At the end of February, it became clear that Zach Johnson will be captain of the US team. But in the golf world, many believe that the risk that the captain who is selected then goes to the Saudi league has contributed to delaying the decision.
John Huggan believes that Henrik Stenson will be captain – if he does not sign for the Saudi tour.
– Those who take that step will probably be excluded, certainly from the PGA but from the European Tour as well. And then they can not become captain of the Ryder Cup. So it looks like Henrik has a choice to make.
Henrik Stenson himself told this week that he, like other candidates, was interviewed by the Ryder Cup Committee via video call.
– It felt like something in between a job interview and a school report. It’s been a while since I did anything like that. They take the call and digest it, and then they come back with an answer, and I think they are aiming for sometime towards the middle of March, the Swede said according to Golf Digest.
However, he had no comment on the question of whether it could affect his chances of being linked with Saudi Arabia.
– It’s more a question for the committee. You have to ask them to see how they look at it.
Probably has the lead of the European Tour told the Swede that he must talk about how he stands for the Saudi tour before they can take a position on him as captain, says John Huggan.
Swedish Robert Karlsson, who plays on the American veteran tour, is also said to be a captain candidate. He might get the job if everyone else jumps on the Saudi project, says John Huggan.
The Scots think there has been a tendency to promote Ireland and the UK in the selection of Ryder Cup captains. Only four have been from other countries since the rest of Europe became part of the competition in 1979.
– Your country has contributed a lot to the Ryder Cup, but you have never had a captain, says John Huggan.
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