Ryder Cup 2023: Henrik Stenson to captain Europe as they bid to regain trophy in opposition to USA | Golf Information

Henrik Stenson has been confirmed as Europe’s captain for the Ryder Cup in 2023.

The 45-year-old Swede made 5 Ryder Cup appearances as a participant, together with throughout Europe’s victory at Le Golf Nationwide in 2018.

Stenson succeeds Padraig Harrington, who he assisted throughout final 12 months’s record-breaking loss in Wisconsin.

Marco Simone Golf and Nation Membership in Italy will host the biennial occasion from September 29-October 1 subsequent 12 months, reside on Sky Sports activities’ devoted Ryder Cup channel, the place Europe will likely be determined to regain the trophy after their 19-9 reverse at Whistling Straits.

“I’m completely thrilled and delighted to be the European Ryder Cup captain – it’s a big honour and I used to be humbled to get the decision confirming the information,” Stenson stated.

“I want to thank the choice panel for believing in me and can say to them, and each European golf fan, that I’ll do every thing in my energy and go away no stone unturned within the quest to get the Ryder Cup again in European fingers.

“The Ryder Cup is golf, and sport, at its highest. I bought goosebumps each time I pulled on a European shirt as a participant and that will likely be magnified within the function of captain.

“Whereas it’s nice for me personally, it’s also nice for my nation and all of the gamers from Sweden who’ve performed for Europe with such distinction since Joakim Haeggman grew to become the primary in 1993.

“Once I began out as knowledgeable golfer, it was past my wildest desires that, at some point, I might comply with within the footsteps of legends of the sport reminiscent of Seve and be the European Ryder Cup captain. However at the moment proves that, generally, desires do come true.”

Stenson was chosen as Europe’s captain by a five-man choice panel comprising of the three most up-to-date captains – Padraig Harrington, Thomas Bjorn and Darren Clarke – in addition to chief govt of the European Tour group, Keith Pelley, and DP World Tour Committee chairman David Howell.

Europe haven’t misplaced a Ryder Cup on house soil since a 15-13 defeat at The Belfry in 1993.

Zach Johnson was confirmed as the United States’ captain final month, together with his predecessor Steve Stricker as vice-captain.

Stenson’s Ryder Cup file

Stenson helped Europe to victory in three of his 5 Ryder Cup appearances as a participant, amassing 11 factors from 19 matches.

That included a 100 per cent file in 2018, the place he partnered Justin Rose to foursomes victories over Rickie Fowler and Dustin Johnson on the Friday, and Johnson and Brooks Koepka on the Saturday, earlier than signing off with a 5&4 success in opposition to Bubba Watson on the Sunday.

Stenson made his Ryder Cup debut in 2006, securing the successful level as Europe claimed an 18.5-9.5 victory at The Ok Membership in Eire.

He was additionally a member of the victorious 2014 group at Gleneagles and the European sides that misplaced on American soil in 2008 and 2016.

Stenson grew to become Sweden’s first male main winner when he triumphed on the 2016 Open, edging an exciting battle with Phil Mickelson, whereas he has gained 17 titles worldwide.

European Ryder Cup director Man Kinnings believes Stenson’s credentials match the invoice.

“Henrik has all of the qualities to be an amazing captain,” he stated.

“He has an extremely spectacular {golfing} CV as a significant champion, two-time European primary and FedEx Cup winner, and within the Ryder Cup he performed 5 instances and performed with distinction, together with holing the successful putt in 2006 on the Ok Membership.

“So he comes with all of the credibility of what he has achieved, and as everyone knows a dry a way of humour and a incredible heat character, however he’s additionally a ferocious competitor.

“He’s massively revered by the gamers and admired by everybody concerned with the sport and the Ryder Cup.”

‘Europe wanted a giant charismatic character’

Sky Sports activities Information’ Jamie Weir…

Henrik Stenson’s appointment will likely be a shock to some individuals who thought Luke Donald was a shoo-in and had this within the bag.

It got here as a bit leftfield to me as effectively for just a few causes. Primarily due to Donald but additionally as a result of I nonetheless thought Stenson was someone who could possibly be a participant on the following Ryder Cup group. His kind hasn’t been nice of late however he is nonetheless solely 45 years outdated. You noticed Paul Casey, who’s a 12 months youthful, nearly win the Gamers Championship.

Communicate to anyone who has been on any of the 5 Ryder Cup groups that Stenson was on and so they’ll inform you he was the life and soul of the group room. He is the one which will get everybody collectively, has a tremendously dry sense of humour, is so widespread together with his friends and in addition with the media as effectively. He’ll do an amazing job from that perspective.

After the catastrophe of Whistling Straits, Europe wanted a giant charismatic character to galvanise the group. They are going to be up in opposition to it in Italy subsequent 12 months. The US have not gained a Ryder Cup on European soil for 30 years however this American group is a distinct breed.

The place Europe all the time had a perceived benefit over the USA prior to now is that they had been a lot extra of a group. All of the gamers bought on so effectively whereas the Individuals had been principally 12 people who pitched up for the week, performed golf however did not actually care concerning the end result.

This technology of American gamers have grown up collectively – the likes of Justin Thomas and Jordan Speith are finest buddies – and so they play for one another now. We noticed that at Whistling Straits. That is fairly scary from a European perspective.