HENRIK STENSON has lost his opportunity to lead Team Europe at next year's Ryder Cup. He joined the LIV Golf Series.

Bookies Paddy Power are 1/100. Open champ Cam Smith joins the Saudi-backed circuit.

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After accepting huge amounts of cash, the rebel tour has sparked civil warfare in the sport. Players signed up for the PGA sanction and now face sanctions.

Team Europe earlier today announced that Stenson's "decisions regarding his personal circumstances" made it clearer that he was "unable to fulfill certain contractual obligations."

Luke Donald is 1/4 favorite to lead the Europeans in Rome next Year.

Smith and Scott, both from Australia, are expected to follow Stenson's lead and join the new format by the end of this year.

Smith dodged questions last week from reporters about his highly-speculated switch.

Smith replied to a reporter's question about the matter by saying: "I just won The British Open, and you're asking me about that?" That's quite...not very good, I think.

"I don't know, mate. My team deals with that stuff. I'm here to win golf tournaments.

This was clearly a case of non-denial. Smith fell to 1/100 and Paddy Power defected to LIV Golf.

Compatriot Scott made a strong showing last week in Scotland and is now at 1/33.

Tommy Fleetwood, an Englishman, could make the switch to Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter. However, he is only 1/5 likely to make the change this year. Reports suggest that he won't.

Xander Schauffele, who was in great form heading into the Open last Thursday, is now 2/1 with Danny Willett.

Viktor Hovland, who was in Sunday's final pairing before failing to make it to the top of the leaderboard, is now 4/1. Justin Rose is 5/1.

England's first major winner since 2016, Matt Fitzpatrick, Collin Morikawa and Collin Morikawa are both single-figure odds at 7/1.

The odds of the world's number one Scottish Scheffler are 25/1, with Jordan Spieth at 33/1 and Shane Lowry as 33/1.

Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods and others have publicly resisted the decision and are as likely as 100/1 to do so.

Paddy Power spokesperson said that LIV Golf was driving a wedge through golfing's heart with the lure money, more money and even more money. This is tempting to many of the best players in the game.

Although money can't buy happiness, it can buy almost any of the best golfers in the world! Let's face the truth, there are some really bad ones.

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