Former LIV Golfer calls out Rory McIlroy after harsh take on brutal dismissal
Rory McIlroy caused a stir on social media
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Former LIV Golfer Pablo Larrazabal has become the latest star to call out Rory McIlroy for his controversial remarks about Henrik Stenson at the weekend.
Stenson was arguably handed the biggest punishment of all back in 2022 after choosing to join LIV Golf.
The Swedish golf star was originally signed up to become Team Europe's captain for the 2023 Ryder Cup, but he ended up being axed soon after his move to LIV was confirmed.
At the time, his fellow professionals who also joined the Saudi League were being banished from PGA Tour and DP World Tour events for jumping ship.
Henrik Stenson was stripped of the captaincy
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But Stenson ended up missing out on a momentous victory for Europe in Rome this past summer after being replaced by Luke Donald.
The Englishman was widely praised by his players for the way he managed the team throughout the week at the Marco Simone course.
McIlroy was the biggest supporter of Donald's impact on the European team and made it clear that he was glad that Stenson was ultimately replaced by the former world No 1.
His post read: "The best thing to happen to the 2023 Euro Ryder Cup team was Henrik going to LIV!"
His directness caused a stir on social media with the post being seen over three million times.
The likes of Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter took aim at McIlroy with sarcastic replies.
But Larrazabal, who played in the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational Series event at the Centurion Club, was left unimpressed by McIlroy for singling out Stenson in such a brutal manner.
"Really? I really don't like where this is going," he wrote on X.
"To exalt someone, you don't have to destroy the other."
Stenson has kept a low profile since being unceremoniously axed by Team Europe, but has impressed on the course.
He won his first-ever LIV Golf event just days after learning he would not be involved in Europe's bid to reclaim the Ryder Cup.
Stenson also had a solid display at this year's Open Championship at Royal Liverpool, where he finished tied-13th and just a few shots shy of McIlroy.
And the 47-year-old admitted after the major that he still had some resentment over what he believes was a rash decision from Team Europe.
He said: “I’m just disappointed with everything that came out because there was a big willingness on my part to sit down and talk long before this thing got to where it got to.
“That’s my disappointment — that there were certain people, without naming names, that didn’t want to sit down and take those meetings.
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Rory McIlroy was glad Team Europe chose Luke Donald
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“And, as a consequence, I feel like we ended up in all this that could have been avoided. But we live and we learn.’’