The Swedish Golf Association broke with Henrik Stenson.
Now the Swede is defended by superstar Phil Mickelson.
– It is disrespectful, he says.
The discussions surrounding Henrik Stenson have been big in Sweden in recent months. The Swedish superstar is the greatest men’s golfer in Sweden’s history, with a historic major title in 2016 as his greatest triumph, and next year had a prestigious assignment to say the least as the Ryder Cup captain for Europe.
The star’s criticism
But during the summer, Stenson chose to leave the PGA and European tours for the much-criticized LIV tour, which is financed by Saudi Arabia and widely criticized for sportswashing, and it had serious consequences. Stenson lost his position as Ryder Cup captain, and shortly afterwards came the news that the Swedish Golf Association had chosen to break all cooperation with him.
Since the decision, Stenson has been supported both at home in Sweden, but also by several stars on the LIV tour. Now even superstar Phil Mickelson – one of the best golfers of all time – is voicing his support for Stenson.
– It is a short-term decision. And a disrespectful one considering what Henrik has done for Swedish golf. I think it will be the Swedish Golf Association that will be ashamed in the end, he says to SVT.
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The association’s response
SVT has also spoken to the Swedish Golf Association about how they view Mickelson’s criticism. But you don’t immediately back down from the big star’s words.
– Henrik Stenson is the biggest hero we had. There is no talking about it. But we have to stand up for what we work for, our ideals. Mickelson can think what he wants, but he doesn’t have to be responsible for our ideals, says general secretary Gunnar Håkansson.
The Swedish Golf Association has previously justified its decision by saying that the LIV tour resembles a “closed league”.
– We think that Henrik, through his involvement in LIV golf, can no longer act as a role model for Swedish golf juniors. LIV golf runs counter to the sporting ecosystem we believe in. We invest a lot of money in children and young people, in the tours, in the dream of one day making it all the way and this is something we do together with Sweden’s golf clubs in a fairly advanced competition ladder, which many consider to be one of the best available within the golf world, they said.
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