British Open 2026: Former LIV golfer Henrik Stenson says ‘ankle bracelet’ coming off, playing PGA Tour Champions
SOUTHPORT, England — Sarcasm has always been a second language for Henrik Stenson, who wielded it quite a bit after posting a tidy two-under 68 in the opening round of the Open Championship.
Asked if it felt like 10 years since his Open victory at Troon, the Swede quickly deadpanned: “9½ at the most.”
But he was only getting started. Having stepped back from the LIV Golf League this year, Stenson has played a limited schedule in 2026, spending time in Sweden to be a dad and watch his son play competitively. He turned 50 in April, and made an appearance at the Senior PGA Championship (T-47) in May and the U.S. Senior Open (T-11) earlier this month.
But next month, he’ll have a new place to play full-time: the PGA Tour Champions. Stenson revealed the development in true Stenson style.
“They removed my ankle bracelet, and I’ll be out of that one-year probation [from LIV], Stenson said. “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.”
Just how much Stenson will play is unclear. He said it’s likely to be around five to seven events on the back end of the schedule, with a chance for more if he does well and qualifiers for the Charles Schwab playoffs. And the intention is to play the tour regularly in 2027.
“I feel like I might give myself a window, say 15th of February until the 15th of October, that’s when I play my golf. I certainly enjoy having an off-season.
“I think it’s good for me, and at this stage of my life and my career, I want to have some time at home as well. I can see myself kind of finding that window what suits me, and I’ll play hopefully some good golf and good tournaments within that.”
Gone from LIV, and suspended from PGA Tour events, Stenson’s time off not only allowed him time at home with family, but a chance for a golf reset. “Yeah, I needed a break. I feel like I was pretty worn out both physically and mentally. I’ve done this for 28 years now, playing two tours, one season kind of tagging onto the next. Being in season … not playing every week, as you know, but being in season for near 10 1/2 months throughout the year, and I guess it gets to a point where the body says how about a little break?”
The time away also proved something to himself. “It’s been the longest break I’ve had during all those years,” Stenson said. “I think it definitely gives me the opportunity to come back out and be a little bit more motivated and hungry to go again on these last couple of holes of my career.”
Still, Stenson says his expectations weren’t high coming into Birkdale, just his fourth event overall in 2026, but the 68 matches the lowest opening-round score he’s shot in 21 Open starts. He shot a 68 at St. Andrews in 2010 and at Troon during his triumph there in 2016. He’s also just two back of the leaders through Thursday afternoon.
“I just kind of one day at a time. I just want to get into the process of doing the right things. Then hopefully by fall, I’ll be in decent shape. As we know with this game, you can turn around fairly quick if you get the things in order,” Stenson said. “I’m not putting any pressure on myself to do that. I just take it as it comes. Clearly, this is a style of golf and a tournament that I’m fairly familiar with. Happy to have a good start.”
Is it the British Open or the Open Championship? The name of the final men’s major of the golf season is a subject of continued discussion. The event’s official name, as explained in this op-ed by former R&A chairman Ian Pattinson, is the Open Championship. But since many United States golf fans continue to refer to it as the British Open, and search news around the event accordingly, Golf Digest continues to utilize both names in its coverage.
