Henrik Stenson Will Lead Europe At 2023 Ryder Cup

Zach Johnson, U.S. Ryder Cup captain, now knows who his counterpart for Europe is.  It’s the Swede — Henrik Stenson.

The European Tour made the announcement on Tuesday and the 45-year-old Stenson will be in charge of the Euros in 2023 at the Marco Simone Club outside Rome.

Stenson and the European team have a lot at stake — they’ve won six straight Ryder Cups at their home venues and will have a tough task ahead after getting blown out by the U.S. team at Whistling Straits — 19-9.

We’re up for a challenge,” said Stenson.  “We saw a very strong American team at Whistling Straits, but we also saw that coming into Paris.”

In his five Ryder Cup appearances as a player, Stenson amassed 11 points and was a part of three winning teams, last in 2018 in Paris. He served as a vice captain last year.

DP World Tour Outside Johannesburg:

Last week’s winner, Pablo Larrazabal, heads this week’s field at the Steyn City Championship.

It’s a new venue — the Steyn City Club outside Johannesburg and the usual DP World Tour suspects are on hand with most of the big European names in the U.S. having competed in The Players last week and slated for the WGC Match Play next week in Austin, Texas.

Greg Norman Won’t Go Away — Set To Announce Events:

PGA Tour commish Jay Monahan (aka The Sheriff Of Nottingham) has basically said the Tour is moving on from Greg Norman and his attempts to lure (steal) players away from the PGA Tour for his fledgling Saudi Golf League.

Seems Sharkey sent a letter to a number of Tour players and in it, offered up his plan for “additional exciting tournaments in which you can play.”  Norman is claiming these events can be played by current Tour members.

Norman is supposed to make an announcement today (Wednesday) with the Asian Tour sanctioning the renegade events.

Premier Golf League Still Alive?:

You may or may not recall that prior to the Saudi Golf League, there was supposed to be a Premier Golf League in the formation stages by London money guys.

The PGA Tour supposedly received a letter from said Premier Golf League that proposed a new joint venture corporation, Premier Golf League Inc. The league would issue shares equal to 50 percent to PGA Tour players, 7.5 percent to the Korn Ferry players, 2.5 percent to DP World Tour players, 5 percent to the Tour’s commercial partners, 2.5 percent to PGL’s directors (which could include PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan), 7.5 percent to a charitable foundation (to benefit the amateur game) and 25 percent to the World Golf Group.

This World Golf Group claims it can create $10 billion of equity value by 2030, which would equate to $20 million per PGA Tour voting member and $3 million per Korn Ferry member.

But wait!  There’s more.

Said proposal would include a cash advance on future equity value of $460 million.  Said advance would equate to PGA Tour members getting $2 million upon the launch of the PGL, with 200 Korn Ferry members each getting $300,000.

And guess who was at the Players Championship last week?  It was Andy Gardiner, CEO of this PGL.  Andy was mum as to what his purpose was or what may or may not have been discussed with the PGA Tour.

Stay tuned on this one.