Henrik Stenson says he is finally ready to move on after his LIV Golf suspension ends next month. The 2016 Open champion joked that his “ankle bracelet” will soon be removed, allowing him to return to PGA Tour-sanctioned events for the first time in a year.
The Swedish star joined LIV Golf in 2022, but he was relegated from the league at the end of the 2025 season. Since then, he has been unable to compete in PGA Tour-sanctioned tournaments because of a one-year suspension.
Stenson is preparing for the next stage of his career after his move to LIV Golf cost him a shot at captaining Team Europe at the 2023 Ryder Cup. The 50-year-old plans to begin playing on the PGA Tour Champions after becoming eligible again later this summer.
ALSO READ: Phil Mickelson Responds to Misconduct Allegations
Stenson Ready for a Fresh Start on the Champions Tour
Stenson shared the update after opening the 2026 Open Championship with a two-under-par 68 at Royal Birkdale. Speaking to reporters, he confirmed that his suspension officially ends on August 25 and used humour to describe the situation.
“Yeah, so from end of August, they remove my ankle bracelet, and I’ll be out of that one-year probation,” Stenson explained. “I think from — I played the last LIV event 24th of August last year. So I’m kind of reinstated as a member, and I’m free to play PGA Tour-sanctioned tournaments from the 25th of August this year.”
Although he knows when he becomes eligible, Stenson said he has not finalized his schedule. He expects to play between five and seven events on the PGA Tour Champions before deciding what works best for him going forward.
ALSO READ: Scottie Scheffler Sends Early Warning to The Open Field With Fast Start at Royal Birkdale
Former Open Champion Focused on the Next Chapter
Stenson enjoyed one of the most successful careers in European golf before joining LIV Golf. He won six PGA Tour titles, 11 DP World Tour events, and famously claimed the Open Championship at Royal Troon in 2016 after his memorable duel with Phil Mickelson.
He also reached No. 2 in the Official World Golf Ranking during his career and represented Europe in five Ryder Cups. However, his world ranking dropped significantly because LIV Golf events did not award Official World Golf Ranking points.
Earlier this year, he played in both the Senior PGA Championship and the U.S. Senior Open, finishing tied for 11th in the latter. Stenson was able to play in those events because they are not operated by the PGA Tour.
With his suspension set to end on August 25, Stenson will soon be free to begin the next chapter of his career on the PGA Tour Champions.
Main Photo Credit:
