Playing in front of former President Donald Trump, Henrik Stenson won his first LIV Golf title on debut Sunday at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey. After the event, Stenson said that he felt more focused following his controversial departure from the Ryder Cup late last month.

“I think there might have been a little extra bit of motivation this week,’’ Stenson said. “And when we as players have that, it can bring out some good stuff. That’s been a bit of a theme — when I really want something, I manage to dig a little bit deeper and make something happen.”

LIV Golf has drawn criticism from multiple sources in the U.S. and Europe due to its Saudi backers’  human rights record, which includes unfair trials, arbitrary deportations, abuse of women, politically motivated assassinations and other malicious acts. But Trump has continually supported the series and hosted the event at his course. His prominent appearance last weekend, during which he repeatedly used items bearing the U.S. presidential seal, served as a direct endorsement of the Saudi Arabian golf organization.

Back in March, Stenson said that he was “thrilled and excited” to be named the European captain for the Ryder Cup, but in recent weeks, the Swedish golfer has relinquished that prestigious path for a more profitable — and divisive — career in the LIV Golf series. After signing a $40 million contract, the 43-year-old won another $4 million for taking the event at Bedminster.

Stenson received a congratulatory handshake from Trump after the event, and Donald Trump Jr. took to Twitter to claim the golfer’s victory as a win against critics of LIV Golf.

Following his departure from the White House, Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and Trump Jr.’s brother-in-law, received a $2 billion investment in his new private equity firm from the Private Investment Fund, the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia which established LIV Golf. Kushner and his firm are currently under investigation.

Stenson’s actual performance, in which he held off Matthew Wolff in the late stages to win, was tangential to the political ramifications of the event. Stenson is one of many top golfers who have left other tours for lucrative paydays in the Saudi-funded breakaway series. Many officials in golf and government have condemned their involvement, claiming that LIV is “Saudi-washing” golf in a larger effort to conceal severe human rights violations in the Middle East.

Henrik Stenson has been removed as the European team captain for the Ryder Cup after accepting a $40 million deal with LIV Golf. The 46-year-old golfer is the most recent defector in a long list of established competitors now signed on for the new Saudi Arabian tour.

The Ryder Cup’s statement on Wednesday morning was succinct, stating that Stenson failed to commit to “contractual obligations” he agreed to in March when he was first named captain. The statement made no further clarification about Stenson’s replacement, but said that one would be named “in due course.”

In his response on Twitter, Stenson explained that his decision to sign with LIV was partially motivated by the sizeable contract, but he also stressed that there were other factors at play.

“In closing, clearly a part of my decision to play in LIV golf events has been commercially driven but the format, schedule and caliber of player were also significant factors,” Stenson said. “I am committed to growing the game and using the game as a force for good.”

Rumors of Stenson’s ties to the LIV tour have circulated for months, but the official confirmation of the relationship ultimately triggered the Ryder Cup to act. Officials and golfers with both the DP World Tour and PGA Tour, along with multiple human rights organizations like Amnesty International UK, have criticized LIV of “Saudi sportswashing” amid alleged human rights offenses by the tour’s backers.

Stenson may be the most recent LIV defector, but he is far from the most prominent, as he joins a list that includes household names like Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau. The Swedish golfer’s decision is notable, however, because of the prominent position he relinquished in doing so. When he was named captain of the European Ryder Cup team earlier this year, Stenson said he was “absolutely thrilled and delighted.”

“I will do everything in my power and leave no stone unturned in the quest to get the Ryder Cup back in European hands,” Stenson said at the time.

In a conflict quickly spreading across the sport, many golfers are choosing to sign large contracts in direct defiance of the mainstream powers that be. All the while, the rift between LIV and the rest of the golfing world only seems to grow larger.

In a riveting head-to-head battle on Royal Troon Golf Club’s ancient, rumpled ground, veterans Hentrik Stenson andPhil Mickelson fought to make every shot count in the final round of the British Open in Scotland on Sunday.

Henrik Stenson Beats Phil Mickelson In British Open Final-Round Showdown For First Major Title

Ultimately, Stenson prevailed, shooting an 8-under 63 to finish the tournament at 20-under 264 to claim his first major championship title. After fourth or better in seven majors, the 40-year-old Swede won Sunday’s matchup with Mickelson by 2 strokes and the Claret Jug by 3 over the American.

Stenson’s 264 is the lowest total ever shot in a major and three shots clear of the lowest total in the Open. His final stroke was a 20-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole at Royal Troon that fell into the cup on the final turn. His 63 matched Johnny Miller for the lowest closing round by a major champion.

“I didn’t know until they told me in the recorder’s hut,” Stenson said when asked if he knew that last putt was for 63.

The Swede also broke Tiger Woods’ record (-19 in 2000 at St. Andrews) for lowest winning total in relation to par in the Open.

“Thank you very much for a great fight,” Stenson told Mickelson as he accepted the Claret Jug.

Stenson ended his winner’s speech on the 18th green by dedicating the victory to a close friend who died of cancer the day before The Open started.

“I feel like he has been with me all week. Mike, this one is for you,” said an emotional Stenson as he raised the Claret Jug one more time and kissed it.

Mike Gerbich was a friend of Stenson and his wife Emma when they lived in Dubai. Gerbich and Henrik Stenson played golf together.

Stenson stopped Mickelson from winning a sixth major championship by sinking a 50-foot birdie putt from off the green at No. 15 that gave him a 2-shot lead with three to play.

Mickelson nearly missed an eagle putt on the 16th hole, and Stenson maintained his two-shot lead with an up-and-down for birdie from the deep rough.

“I knew he wasn’t going to back down at any point, and in a way that makes it easier for myself,” Stenson said. “I knew I had to keep on pushing, keep on giving myself birdie chances. He wasn’t going to give it to me, so I had to pull away. I’m just delighted I managed to do that with a couple of birdies at the right time.”

Mickelson led only once, a two-shot swing on the first hole. He and Stenson were tied with five holes left until the Swede made an 18-foot birdie on the par-3 14th and then buried Mickelson, nicknamed ‘Lefty,’ with a putt that defined his moment as a major champion.

American J.B. Holmes finished third, just 14 shots behind.

“Those guys are playing a different golf course than everyone else,” Holmes said.

Stenson’s previous best finish in a major was a tie for second at the 2013 Open at Muirfield, which Mickelson captured for his most recent major victory in which he defeated Stenson by three.

Stenson’s victory comes 19 years after fellow Swede Jesper Parnevik lost a 54-hole lead at Royal Troon. Stenson said Parnevik sent him a message stating, “Go out and finish what I didn’t manage to finish.”

“I’m really proud to have done that, and it’s going to be massive for golf in Sweden with this win,” Stenson said.

Mickelson was the runner-up at a major for the 11th time in his career. Only Jack Nicklaus has more second-place finishes (19).

“It’s probably the best I’ve played and not won,” Mickelson said on Sunday. “That’s probably why it’s disappointing in that I don’t have a point where I can look back and say, ‘I should have done that’ or ‘Had I only done this.’ I played a bogey-free round of 65 on the final round of a major. Usually that’s good enough to do it. And I got beat. I got beat by 10 birdies.”

TROON, SCOTLAND – JULY 17: Henrik Stenson of Sweden plays a shot on the 16th hole during the final round on day four of the 145th Open Championship at Royal Troon on July 17, 2016 in Troon, Scotland. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)