Report: Henrik Stenson will face difficulty getting into Europe's top events in 2026

Henrik Stenson will face difficulty trying to get into the fields for some of Europe's top events in 2026, according to a report.

Ben Smith

19 Nov 2025

Former LIV Golf captain Henrik Stenson will face difficulty getting into some of Europe's top events in 2026, according to a report.

According to bunkered, the former Open champion has settled fines of more than $1m so he can return to the DP World Tour in 2026.

The Swede joined LIV Golf for a rumoured $40m in 2022 and was stripped of the European Ryder Cup captaincy as a result.

He won a LIV Golf event on his very first start in Bedminster but has since struggled for form and consistency and was among those relegated in August.

It was speculated that he would turn to the Asian Tour's International Series in 2026 in a bid to earn his spot back on the Majesticks.

There is also the possibility that Stenson could enter LIV's version of qualifying school that is being held in the United States next January.

Stenson still has those options available but should he come up short then it appears the 49-year-old would like to play on the DP World Tour next season.

But Telegraph Sport are reporting that Stenson will not be guaranteed entry into some of the Rolex Series events because of an unpublicised rule change for the 2026 season.

A Tour spokesperson confirmed the change to TS. It was approved by the tournament committee in October 2024.

In the past, Stenson would have been eligible to compete in the top events, such as the Dubai Desert Classic and BMW PGA Championship, owing to the fact he is in the 'legends category'.

But that classification has been downgraded.

Stenson could still play his way into the elite fields or he could rely on sponsor's exemptions, but the publication report that one LIV player has already turned down for an invitation into next January's Dubai Desert Classic.

A source indicated to Telegraph Sport that there is clearly still a bad taste in the mouth at Wentworth HQ over Stenson's defection to LIV in 2022.

The person told the paper:

"Stenson can play but now on our terms. It should be remembered that he let us down and embarrassed us when we needed him and after he had signed the contract to be captain in 2022."

It should also be noted that after December 31, LIV Golf's financiers will no longer be settling fines for their players.

Austria's Bernd Wiesberger spent two years with LIV Golf and returned to the DP World Tour in 2024 after the breakaway paid a record $1.9m to clear the way for the 38-year-old to resume his career in Europe.