Lee Westwood backs Henrik Stenson to play his way into 2023 Ryder Cup team

Henrik Stenson will definitely not be at next year’s Ryder Cup as Europe’s captain - but he could be in Rome as a player.

Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter have both backed the Swede to make the team after his stunning debut in the LIV Golf Series on Sunday earned the Englishmen a huge pay day in Bedminster.

Stenson only joined the Saudi rebel circuit two weeks ago after he was stripped of the European captaincy after just 127 days, a decision that left him feeling aggrieved and “hugely disappointed”, despite having broken a contract he had signed containing the stipulation that he could not sign up for a rival tour.

Nobody gave the world No 171 a prayer at Trump National yet, after a press conference here on Thursday in which he looked drawn and weary, Stenson somehow produced an opening 64 and then followed it up with two 69s to emerge as the wire-to-wire winner in the 54-holer.

So as well as his £40million signing on fee, Stenson also has £3.65million heading into his overflowing back account.

Westwood and Poulter also benefited because they were on the same “Majesticks” team as Stenson, meaning that they both won an extra £307,000 to go with their individual cheques of £532,000 and £213,000 for finishing tied for sixth and 13th respectively.

“It was a great display by Henrik, full of nerve as well as skill,” Westwood said. “He was dreading seeing the media on Thursday, but as soon as that happened it sort of freed his mind. I’m disappointed what happened to him with the Ryder Cup, as we’ve had captains before who have played on other Tours. Padraig [Harrington] did last time, as he is a member of the PGA Tour. What’s different with LIV?

“But if we now look forward it’ll be interesting to see what happens with our DP World