DP World Tour CEO delighted with 'landmark' ruling against LIV rebels

DP World Tour CEO delighted at the ‘landmark’ ruling that will allow the tour to suspend and fine LIV Golf rebels… with Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter amongst stars to pay £100,000 penalty

  • Keith Pelley called the ruling ‘an incredible positive’ for the tour
  • LIV rebels will be able to qualify for the Ryder Cup, but may find it more difficult
  • Any players who are part of the Saudi-backed tour can no longer captain teams 

The chief executive of the DP World Tour said he was delighted at a ‘landmark’ ruling against 12 LIV rebels whom his organisation had suspended and fined.

High-profile Europeans who jumped ship to join the Saudi-backed breakaway group, including Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter, will now have to pay £100,000 within 30 days after Sports Resolution found that they had ‘committed serious breaches of the code of behaviour’.

‘It’s great that it has given us clarity, not just for golf but for sports organisations,’ said Keith Pelley. ‘Sports organisations now will look at this landmark case and understand they have rules and regulations. There are rules and regulations everywhere and it’s not OK to sign up for something and then just arbitrarily decide not to adhere to those rules and regulations. That’s the way the world works. That’s life.’

Pelley described the verdict as ‘an incredible positive for us,’ adding: ‘We’re delighted that that’s the outcome’.

He was also asked, ahead of the start of the Masters at Augusta, how the ruling could impact the Ryder Cup this year and beyond. 

Chief executive Keith Pelley was delighted with the ‘landmark’ ruling in the tour’s favour

Ian Poulter is one of the high-profile LIV rebels that will now be forced to pay the tour a fine

News of the DP World Tour’s success in the case broke just as the Masters started in Augusta

‘In order to qualify for the Ryder Cup, you have to be European and you have to be a member of the DP World Tour and if you are, you qualify through one of the six spots, or if [captain] Luke Donald selects one of the six players,’ Pelley said. ‘It will be more difficult for them depending on what other sanctions we impose on them to qualify for the Ryder Cup. If they qualify then they can play, but I think it will be difficult for them to do so.’

Pelley also disclosed that three LIV rebels — Martin Kaymer, Sergio Garcia and Graeme McDowell — can never be Europe captains after failing to play the minimum number of DP World Tour events last year.

He did, however, remain neutral on bans. ‘This isn’t about banning the players,’ he added. ‘This is about administering our rules and regulations as set out by our Members. That’s what this is about.’ Matthew Schwartz, counsel to LIV Golf, stated: ‘We disagree with the DP World Tour’s arbitral body, which has failed to address in reasonable substance why competitive forces must be upheld. By punishing players for playing golf, the DPWT is seeking to unreasonably control players and it is the sport and fans that suffer. There are no winners.’

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