Stenson, who won on his LIV Golf debut in July less than two weeks after he was stripped of his role as Europe’s Ryder Cup captain over his decision to join the series, was replaced in the 48-player field by Jordanian Shergo Al Kurdi.

Former British Open winner Stenson was one of the 12 major champions named in the original field competing at the 54-hole event at The International Golf Club that began yesterday.

This week’s event marks the fourth in the inaugural season of the LIV Golf Invitational Series, which in a short time has already disrupted the dynamics of men’s professional golf.

Critics say LIV Golf, which is bankrolled by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, amounts to “sportswashing” by a nation trying to improve its reputation in the face of criticism over its human rights record.