DP World Tour chief Keith Pelley has been urged to resign by the brother of former LIV Golf star Pablo Larrazabal as tensions continue to rise in golf's fierce civil war.
CEO Pelley was slammed by Larrazabal's older brother Alejandro after Spanish compatriot Adrian Otaegui became the first LIV Golf rebel to win a DP World Tour event at the Andalucia Masters. Defectors to Greg Norman's controversial Saudi-backed series had previously been suspended from playing on the tour after sanctions imposed by Pelley.
But Otaegui was one of four LIV players who successfully campaigned this summer to lift the restrictions. And an awkward but inevitable moment of history arrived last Sunday as a LIV player entered the winners circle for the first time on a main tour.
Otaegui triumphed in style, finishing at a tournament record 19 under-par to secure a dominant win at the notoriously difficult Valderrama. The Spaniard breezed to victory by six shots after a superb third round of 64 on moving day.
Glory at the famous Valderrama also granted Otaegui access to precious world ranking points. LIV have so far been blocked by the Official World Golf Rankings board in their attempts to legitimise their invitational series with ranking points, which are crucial in allowing players to qualify for majors.
Otaegui has featured in three LIV events and the DP World Tour's coverage of his victory has come under fire, with Pelley's tour accused of a lack of coverage on their media channels due to his status as a LIV rebel. Larrazabal returned to the DP World Tour status quo after taking part in LIV's inaugural event at the Centurion Club, and his brother Alejandro was furious with the perceived deliberate ignorance towards Otaegui's success.
"I search and search and can't find a single mention of @adrianotaegui's feat today by the DP, leading by 6,” Larrazabal tweeted. “Does anyone find anything? If so, I promise to take a course on RRSS management or something... forgive my incompetence... #pathetic.”
He added: “Pelley must not finish the year, under no circumstances…the direction of the circuit is too Dantesque and someone has to fall, quickly, and change course. The last customers of the tour are the fans, let no one forget that.
"How long will it take for the players to rise up against the circuit management? Knowing the atrocities that are done to its members and the opportunities for expansion and growth that have been squandered?"
LIV Golf star Lee Westwood appeared to back up Larrazabal's argument before Otaegui's final round, tweeting: "Is @adrianotaeguileading? And by 6! Wouldn’t know would you. Good luck today Adrian."
