An independent United Kingdom-based panel, Sports Resolutions, has ruled in favor of the DP World Tour to be able to fine and suspend LIV Golf players who played in conflicting events without permission, it was announced Thursday.
Members of the DP World Tour who played in Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf’s opening tournament last June in London asked for a conflicting event exemption, but the DP World Tour denied the request. Those players received three-event bans and fines.
Ian Poulter, Adrian Otaegui and Justin Harding appealed the decision, with the punishments being put on hold pending the appeal, which allowed LIV players to continue competing on the DP World Tour without penalty.
Eventually 16 golfers joined the appeal, but Sergio Garcia, Charl Schwartzel, Branden Grace and Otaegui withdrew before the hearing happened in February.
Sports Resolutions found DP World Tour chief executive Keith Pelley “acted entirely reasonably in refusing releases” and the relevant regulations are lawful and enforceable.
“The DP World Tour has a legitimate and justifiable interest in protecting the rights of its membership,” the panel ruled. “The sanctioned members committed serious breaches of the Code of Behaviour of the DP World Tour Regulations by playing in (LIV Golf events) despite their release requests having been refused. All of the players’ challenges therefore failed, their appeals are dismissed in their entirety, and the £100,000 fines originally imposed must now be paid within 30 days.”
Pelley said he was thankful for the decision. “We are delighted that the panel recognized we have a responsibility to our full membership to do this and also determined that the process we followed was fair and proportionate. In deciding the level of these sanctions last June, we were simply administering the regulations which were created by our members and which each of them signed up to.”
Chief Executive Keith Pelley on the Sport Resolutions decision. pic.twitter.com/69KIyFSSMX
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) April 6, 2023
The decision is a big blow to golfers who compete for LIV. Playing in DP World Tour events was one of the few ways they’re able to received Official World Golf Ranking points, and it kept an avenue open for them to compete on the 2023 Ryder Cup team.
To be eligible for the European team, players must be members of the DP World Tour.
