‘Must Have Come All Too Quickly for Him’: Sacked Team Europe Captain Mourns the Passing Away of Fellow Ryder Cup Veteran

Though DP World Tour’s first event in Abu Dhabi was surrounded with excitement, the news of the passing of legendary golfer Barry Lane was met with massive sorrow. LIV Golf star Henrik Stenson mourned the loss of the Ryder Cup veteran following the conclusion of the HSBC Abu Dhabi Golf Championships.

Lane was an English golfer who had competed in 693 European Tour events. His enormous number of starts lists him as 4th in Tour’s all-time most appearance list. Lane represented Team Europe in the 1993 Ryder Cup and had five wins to his name on the European Tour.

Since 2010, Barry Lane had been competing in the Senior Tour. Nonetheless, on 31st December 2022, the veteran golfer passed away after a long fight with cancer. At the DP World Tour’s first event of 2023, fellow European Henrik Stenson paid tribute to the late golfer.

Henrik Stenson mourns the loss of Ryder Cup veteran

Every player at the 2023 HSBC Abu Dhabi Golf Championship wore a black ribbon as a touch of tribute to the late Barry Lane. However, Stenson had a little more to share, as the Swede mourned the loss of his fellow European star.

“It was very sad news learning of Barry’s passing”, said the LIV star. He also claimed that wasn’t aware of Lane’s illness and the news of his passing came as a surprise to him. Stenson said, “I was not aware he was ill or he was sick. It must have come all too quickly for him”.

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The 2016 Open Championship winner then added how Lane was a great mentor to him when he made his European Tour debut in 2001. “Barry was a very nice guy and one of the players who was always friendly and engaging when I came out here in 2001, struggling to find my stride,” Stenson said.

The Swedish golfer further talked about how even in his last season of the Tour, Barry Lane had the same attitude as his initial years. “When he played his last full season out here he hadn’t changed from the day I first shook his hand”. In the end, Henrik Stenson states that the heartbreaking news has mentally affected everyone.

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“It will have touched many people”, said the LIV star at the end. Undoubtedly, the passing of a friend is truly heartbreaking. Especially if the person has helped you through the initial phase of your professional career. The late Barry Lane was a friend and mentor for many on the European Tour. The world of golf will surely miss him. Prayers go out to his family and loved ones.