DP World Tour Mandates Player Choice Amid LIV Golf Uncertainty
Players joining LIV Golf next season will be barred from DP World Tour events in 2027 and Ryder Cup eligibility.
The DP World Tour has announced a significant shift in its policy regarding players who join LIV Golf, stating that any golfer committing to LIV next season will be ineligible for DP World Tour events in 2027. This decision also impacts Ryder Cup participation, as players joining LIV will no longer be considered for the European team in future competitions.
This hardline stance marks a departure from previous years, where the DP World Tour had agreements allowing some top players to compete in both tours. This flexibility had previously enabled players like Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton to represent Europe in the 2025 Ryder Cup.
DP World Tour CEO Guy Kinnings emphasized the need for players to make a clear choice, stating, "Players need to make a choice. We have rules and regulations which are there to protect our tour and which our members must all abide by. Players who are not willing to comply with our rules and regulations should not be seeking to join our tour."
Players aiming for DP World Tour membership in 2027 have a deadline of November 16 to register and will be required to disclose their tour commitments for the upcoming season. This information will be considered in their membership applications.
LIV Golf, currently navigating bankruptcy proceedings with the assistance of private equity firm BC Partners, extended its deadline for player commitments to October 25. To date, only Richard Bland has publicly confirmed his intention to play in the restructured league. Notable players such as Jon Rahm, through his lawyer, have indicated they will not participate in LIV Golf next season, with David Puig and Adrian Meronk also stating their decisions not to join.
Sources familiar with the DP World Tour indicated to The Athletic that LIV Golf's proposed new structure, which includes player equity stakes, influenced the European tour's revised stance on conditional releases. This comes as LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil previously advocated for a collaborative approach, stating in August, "Golf doesn't need one tour to win and everyone else to lose."
O'Neil has been actively seeking ways to sustain LIV Golf after the Saudi Public Investment Fund withdrew its financial backing earlier this year. Attempts to forge partnerships with national opens and other tours have encountered obstacles. In contrast, the PGA Tour has established a partnership with the Australian Open and, in July, finalized a deal with the Asian Tour. The PGA Tour and DP World Tour have maintained a strategic alliance since 2020.