Rory McIlroy took aim at sacked Ryder Cup captain Henrik Stenson on social media, and the Swede’s LIV Golf teammate Lee Westwood has had his say on the fallout.
Lee Westwood has hit back at Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy after he claimed former captain Henrik Stenson’s sacking was “the best thing that could have happened to a Ryder Cup team in Europe”.
Led by captain Luke Donald, McIlroy helped Europe win the Ryder Cup against their American rivals in October against Marco Simone. Donald was made second choice to be the European manager after former All England champion Stenson was initially given the managerial role in 2023. However, the Swede was relieved of his captaincy last summer as he opted to join LIV Golf alongside fellow Europeans Westwood and Ian Poulter.
The position was then given to Donald, and the decision paid off as the former world number one led Europe to a dominant performance in Rome. His heroics in Italy were later rewarded when the British player was chosen to captain the United States title defense in 2025, making him the first player to do so consecutively since Bernard Gallacher in 1995.
One guy who might not be at Bethpage in two years is McIlroy’s star teammate Jon Rahm, who shocked the golf world by joining the LIV team this week. This, of course, cast doubt on his Ryder Cup future, but McIlroy, one of LIV’s biggest critics, criticized his attitude by calling for a rule change to allow the Spaniard to take part, seems to have softened.
After requesting the rule change, Stenson was asked on social media if he wanted the same treatment. He reacted mercilessly against his Ryder Cup teammate Westwood. He sarcastically responded to the four-time major winner’s post with the following: Merry Christmas!!!”
Like Stenson and Rahm, Westwood will also be among the players changed due to the potential LIV golfer rule changes, as he was certain to be a future captain even before his move. Saudi Arabia becomes Europe. But when McIlroy spoke in Italy this fall, he seemed fine with his former teammate no longer being around.
That’s why the four-time major champion, who believes Westwood and team missed out on the Ryder Cup and Donald’s team didn’t miss them. “It’s definitely a little strange not having her,” the former All England champion claimed in September.
“But I think this week of all weeks it’s going to hit home with them they are not here. They are going to miss being here more than we’re missing them. This week is a realisation that the decision that they made has led to not being a part of this week and that’s tough. The landscape in golf is ever-changing and more dynamic and we’ll see what happens and whether they will be part of it in the future. I always thought leading up to this week is when it’s going to hit home that they are not going to be here.”