Report: Flag showing support for LIV's Henrik Stenson confiscated at Ryder Cup
A flag showing support for LIV Golf's Henrik Stenson was reportedly confiscated on the first tee grandstand at the Ryder Cup.
ROME - A flag displaying support for LIV Golf player and axed Ryder Cup captain Henrik Stenson was reportedly confiscated on the first tee at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club.
Stenson was axed as European Ryder Cup captain for his decision to join the breakaway.
On the eve of this contest, the 44th edition, Stenson opened up on the multimillion-dollar decision that saw him stripped of the honour.
"That's not my decision to make," he told SI when asked about the prospect of being reintroduced to the fold at some point given the peace agreement that is being worked on by golf's leading organisations.
The first tee at the Ryder Cup is a crazy place. European vice captain Nicolas Colsaerts has been leading those lucky enough to be in the 4,800 seater grandstand with the thunder claps.
This was the scene on the first morning:
The first tee this morning. #RyderCup2023 pic.twitter.com/Zu5cKuCWS1
— BenSmith (@bensmithgolf) September 29, 2023
There was also a tribute to the late, great European icon Seve Ballesteros ahead of day two:
A flag of the icon was lowered from the top of the grandstand and down to the bottom, as it revealed an image of Ballesteros with the words 'Per Sempre Nei Nostri Cuori'.
It means 'Always In Our Hearts'.
There is a contingent of Swedish fans who are fully behind the 23-year-old rookie Ludvig Aberg.
They also don't want Stenson's contribution to the Ryder Cup to be forgotten.
The group displayed a flag which said: "Make Stenson Great Again".
NLU reported that it was confiscated:
These guys had a “Make Stenson Great Again” written on a Swedish flag and it got confiscated! pic.twitter.com/jPS5iNJ1Mp
— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) September 30, 2023
Stenson has played in five Ryder Cup, earning a total of 11 points for Team Europe.
Memorably, the Swede holed the winning putt on his Ryder Cup debut at The K Club.
Stenson was at the receiving end of a brutal comment from Rory McIlroyy before this year's Cup began.
McIlroy said it was 'strange' the likes of Stenson, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Sergio Garcia are not involved in any capacity.
And he added this week they will feel the consequences of their decisions to join the Saudi-funded tour.
"They'll miss us more than we miss them," he said.
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