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The Associated Press — The European Tour is weeks away from finding out whether it has the authority to issue bans on members of the Saudi-backed LIV golf union, whose development rocked the golf world last year.
Rebel players like Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson (Associated Press, below) Happy to get what they can from the tour — world ranking points, Ryder Cup qualification points — whether they’re popular or not.
The veteran trio will play in the Abu Dhabi Championship this week, with Stenson at the fore.
It has been six months since the 46-year-old Swede chose LIV Golf over the Ryder Cup.
He hasn’t played on the European Tour since — his last non-LIV appearance was at the British Open in July — so he may be left out in the warm weather forecast at Yas Island Links.
Stenson may not have more activity on the tour to advance his career.
A British arbitration judge is expected to rule in February in a legal dispute between the European Tour and its deserter LIV Golf. The Desert Swing, which also hosts the Dubai Desert Classic next week, may be the last hurrah.
“It’s going to be an interesting few months,” Irish golfer Shane Lowry told the BBC.
“Over the next few months, there are several key dates that will shape the evolution of the game of golf.”
Luke Donald, who replaced Stenson as European Ryder Cup captain, will also tee off in Abu Dhabi for one of the iconic Rolex Series, with prize money of up to $9 million.
It would have been seen as a huge prize pool if it weren’t for the Saudi-funded LIV Golf offering more — a fact Lowry couldn’t escape.
Lowry and many others in the field are due to play in last week’s Heroes Cup match at the nearby Abu Dhabi Golf Club, where the Continental team beat Great Britain and Ireland and Donald played in the Ryder Cup. Evaluated my options eight months after finishing.
Although Lowry felt he was playing “okay,” he didn’t score even half a point for the Continentals and maybe three-and-a-half quarters per game.
Thomas Pieters, who won last year’s Abu Dhabi Championship, was also on the winning team, although he did not perform as well as he would have liked.
“I realize I’m not quite ready yet,” the Belgian said. “I should have practiced for a few more days, but it’s hard with a newborn. I feel like I’m ready now.”
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