Padraig Harrington says most European players feel LIV Tour rebels deserve tougher sanctions

Padraig Harrington claims that most DP World Tour players don't believe that the sanctions imposed on those who have defected to the LIV Golf Tour have gone far enough.

Harrington was reacting to strong comments made by DP World Tour CEO Keith Pelley who fired back at the 16 players who have threatened the Tour with legal action unless their sanctions are rescinded.

The sanctions followed their appearance in the first LIV Golf Tour and included a ban from next week's Scottish Open and a fine, with the promise of more to come if they competed in this week's LIV event in Portland.

READ MORE: Keith Pelley says golfer committed to Irish Open but is playing in LIV event as he hits back at players threatening legal action

Pelley criticised the LIV rebels for their claim that they "care deeply" about the DP World Tour (former European Tour) and highlighted how one player had given a signed commitment to play in the Horizon Irish Open this week, only to play in Portland instead.

Speaking after his second round at Mount Juliet this afternoon, Harrington commented: "Friends of mine have gone to play there. I am comfortable with them being gone to play there.

"I have no issues with them, they have made that decision, there is great money there.

“It looks like they are here to stay. The rest of golf is starting to focus on themselves, it looks like the PGA Tour and European Tour statements are starting to focus on their tours.

"As far as I am concerned, let LIV go and do their thing.

“I think it’s good for golf, that competition and other Tours, and I think there is room for it, too.

"I don’t have a problem with that. I do know that everybody who went, they might have wished something different but they would have expected this.

“From my perspective, from a general perspective, the players who haven’t gone but could have gone feel the sanctions haven’t gone far enough, 100%.

"The European players would feel the sanctions haven’t gone far enough but I wouldn’t want them to be ever banned from playing majors."

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