Stenson would be the first Swede to captain a Ryder Cup staff.
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After months of consternation inside its ranks, Crew Europe has its new Ryder Cup captain. Henrik Stenson will lead the European squad on the 2023 Cup in Rome.
The 45-year-old Swede performed in 5 Cups himself after which pivoted to a vice captain function on this previous yr’s Cup at Whistling Straits. “I’m extraordinarily proud and humbled to be @RyderCupEurope’s subsequent captain,” Stenson tweeted Tuesday morning. “Rome, right here we come! #RyderCup #TeamEurope”
A lot had been remodeled the delayed announcement by Crew Europe. Selections in regards to the subsequent captain sometimes happen early within the new yr. Padraig Harrington was introduced Jan. 8, 2019. However the reported subject at hand was the identical one bothering a lot of the remainder of the PGA Tour: the Saudi-backed golf league.
It was reported that Stenson was contemplating committing to the Saudi golf league, and that he (in addition to Ian Poulter) had been warned they might by no means be capable of captain a Ryder Cup staff in the event that they dedicated to the breakaway league.
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“It’s a heck of a choice,” one member of Stenson’s staff mentioned to James Corrigan of The Telegraph. Because of the indecision, it appeared Luke Donald could be subsequent in line to take over the captain function. Harrington himself, in addition to many others requested to speak on the report, endorsed Donald as a fantastic possibility. However nothing was set in stone.
On the finish of February, Harrington even saved the conjecture flowing when he instructed reporters that he was particularly instructed to not talk about who was being thought-about for the function.
“I’ve been particularly requested to not discuss it,” Harrington mentioned. “An precise do-not-discuss order. I’m not allowed to debate the timeline; I’m particularly not allowed to debate who’s in it. They received’t need opinions getting on the market. There’s 4 guys in there with an opportunity and if I begin speaking about one, it might be misconstrued as me favoring them.”
It was throughout that week in late February that Stenson admitted to sitting down with the European panel for what he known as “someplace between a job interview and a college presentation.” Stenson mentioned the choice was anticipated for mid-March, and on the precise center day of the month, right here we’re. He would be the first Swedish participant to captain a Ryder Cup staff.
