Padraig Harrington slammed Henrik Stenson for his decision to take part in the LIV golf series. The Swede shook up the golfing world when he opted to join the controversial breakaway series alongside the likes of Paul Casey, Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau.
As a result, he was stripped of the Team Europe Ryder Cup captaincy. During a chat with Sky Sports, the disappointed Irishman, who led the team at the last edition of the prestigious tournament, wished he would have waited a little longer before opting to defect to LIV and to have "done his job" as captain.
"We knew it was coming, in some ways, and we've been planning for it for the last 10 days," Harrington, who will be part of the reconvened committee to choose a replacement, said. "It gives us plenty of time in terms of 15 months to get our ducks in a line.
"We are already talking about when we are meeting to elect the next captain. It is really not going to interfere with the Ryder Cup in any shape or form. I do wish he had waited 15 months. Everyone has to make the right decision financially for themselves.
"It wouldn't have been any harm as he had signed commitment (with Ryder Cup Europe) to wait those 15 months, the same deal would have been on the table in 15 months' time. It is a pity for him to go but 15 months is loads of time to get someone in place and get a feel for what they are doing."
2014 Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley also expressed his sadness with what has transpired. "I'm sure this was not an easy decision for him but ultimately he has made that decision,” he told The Scotsman newspaper.
"It's something that disappoints me but I can understand. I'm not going to come down on any of the guys who have gone to LIV, they've been offered huge amounts of money. For Henrik, it's life-changing at this stage of his career. It's unlikely he is ever going to earn that kind of money going forward so I can understand.
"I'm sure he's not going to come out of this looking good, but that is for others to judge, not me. But this is incredibly disappointing for the Ryder Cup."
Stenson could make his LIV debut as early as the Bedminster event from July 29-31. This evening the 46-year-old posted a letter on Twitter outlining why he made such a controversial choice.
“After much consideration I have decided to join several of my fellow professionals and play in the LIV invitational series starting at Bedminster in a week or so’s time,” he began. “My interest in this concept has been well documented over the past few years and and despite some of the ongoing tension between LIV golf, the DP world tour and PGA Tours, ultimately, the opportunity to play in LIV events moving forward is something I want to experience.”
