Henrik Stenson Pays £1M in Fines to Rejoin DP World Tour After LIV Relegation
⛳ Henrik Stenson has officially returned to the European game — and it cost him over £1 million.
After falling into the LIV Golf Drop Zone and losing his Majesticks GC spot, the 2016 Open champion has now paid the massive fines required to restore his DP World Tour membership. 🏌️♂️💰
Stenson was one of several European stars fined for entering LIV events without permission. But with LIV informing players that the Saudi PIF will no longer cover fines after December 31, Stenson acted swiftly and paid out of pocket to rejoin the DP World Tour in 2026.
This comes after he was controversially stripped of the European Ryder Cup captaincy, relegated from LIV, and left without guaranteed status for next season.
Meanwhile, the DP World Tour faces another major legal hurdle: Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton are still awaiting a hearing date on their appeal more than 14 months after challenging their fines and suspensions from joining LIV in 2024. Their case could determine their Ryder Cup eligibility — and reshape the European team for years to come. 🇪🇺⚖️
Stenson, Westwood, Poulter, Garcia, Rahm, Hatton…
The battle between LIV and the DP World Tour is far from over.
👇 Drop your thoughts:
Did Stenson make the right move returning to the DP World Tour?
#HenrikStenson #LIVGolf #DPWorldTour #GolfNews #JonRahm #TyrrellHatton #MajesticksGC #RyderCup #GolfUpdate #ProfessionalGolf #SportsNews #DPWT
Henrik Stinson is preparing a return to the European circuit after being relegated from Alivy Golf to Bunker Deuk understands that Stinson has paid off more than 1 million pounds in fines to restore his DP World Tour membership, allowing him to compete once again on the tour he called home for decades. Stenson, who was controversially stripped of the European Rder Cup captaincy after joining LIIV three years ago, slid into the league’s drop zone following a disappointing 2025 campaign. LIIV leadership made it clear at the end of the season when Stinson was dramatically replaced on Mageix GC by co- captain Ian Poulter that relegated players would not receive exemptions or special treatment. Reflecting on his struggles, Stinson remained philosophical after finishing 52nd in the seasonl long standings. Over the course of a career, you’re going to have good years and bad years. It’s part of professional sports. You’re going to have disappointment. You’re going to have good times. I had the worst season on the team and now I’m in the worst position. You just have to deal with it and move forward. The 2016 Open champion hasn’t played competitively since LIIV season finale in August and has not confirmed whether he’ll attempt to re-qualify for LIIV through the 2026 promotions event scheduled for January in Florida. And in the meantime, Stinson has settled the fines issued by the DP World Tour for competing in LIIV events without a release. He along with Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, and Sergio Garcia resigned his DP World Tour card in May 2023 after an arbitration panel upheld the tour’s authority to enforce penalties. The timing of Stinson’s move is notable. Aliv recently informed its players that from January 1st, the Saudi public investment fund will stop covering DP World Tour fines, meaning players wishing to retain European eligibility must pay the penalties themselves. A former DP World Tour member for 23 years, Stinson last competed on the circuit at the 2023 Dubai Desert Classic, where he closed with an impressive final round 64 to finish inside the top 10. that his future role with the Mage Stickix GC remains unclear heading into the 2026 LIV season. Meanwhile, Stinson’s return comes as the DP World Tour enters another period of legal uncertainty. John Rom and Tier Hatton, both suspended after joining LIIV in 2024, are still waiting for a hearing date on their appeal against fines and disciplinary action. A case that could have major implications for their RDER Cup eligibility 14 months after their appeal was submitted. No hearing has been scheduled. Stinson and the first wave of LIIV defectors received resolution within a year when Sports Resolutions UK ruled in favor of the tour’s right to fine and suspend them. Lee Westwood weighed in on X. Their appeal must be due anytime now. It’ll be interesting to see if their bans, fines, and suspensions are consistent with the previous ones. Tricky time and decisions coming up for the DPWT. Caught between a rock and a hard place.
