DP World Tour Rejects LIV Golf Offer To Pay Outstanding Player Fines
Bob Harig of Sports Illustrated has reported that officials from the circuits met in August, but LIV Golf's proposal was rejected by the DP World Tour


The DP World Tour has rejected a proposal from LIV Golf to clear the fines owed to the circuit by its players and allow them to compete in its events without penalty.
Per Sports Illustrated’s Bob Harig, officials from LIV Golf met with their DP World Tour counterparts in August to discuss the proposals.
According to the report, LIV Golf officials also offered a £6m settlement fee to put towards purses on the DP World Tour, assurances that future LIV Golf tournaments wouldn’t clash with the biggest DP World Tour events, and an exemption category for DP World Tour players to compete in International Series events on the Asian Tour, which has a close relationship with LIV Golf.
The issue of LIV golfers playing on the DP World Tour came to a head in April 2023. During that year’s Masters at Augusta National, it was announced that the DP World Tour had won its legal battle against LIV golfers.
That didn’t give the DP World Tour the capacity to ban LIV golfers and strip them of their memberships, but it did give it the right to impose sanctions in the form of fines and suspensions against the relevant players for breaching its conflicting tournament regulation. Various LIV golfers have played on the DP World Tour since, including Thomas Pieters at the Soudal Open, but only after outstanding fines have been paid.
Thomas Pieters played in the Soudal Open earlier in the year
The situation has repercussions for European LIV golfers with aspirations of playing in the 2025 Ryder Cup because they must play a minimum of four DP World Tour events a year beyond the Majors to retain their memberships and be eligible for the match.
LIV Golf’s highest-profile eligible player is Jon Rahm, who joined the circuit in December and would ordinarily be a shoo-in for the next Ryder Cup.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
However, after the Olympics, which counted towards the total, he still needs three more DP World Tour appearances this year to be eligible. One way to pave the way for the starts he needs is to pay his outstanding fines, but instead he has appealed them, along with Legion XIII teammate and fellow Ryder Cupper Tyrrell Hatton.
That has opened the door for Rahm to play in next week’s Open de Espana, followed by the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and the Andalucia Masters to meet the minimum requirement.
However, it's uncertain when his appeal will be considered or whether he will be able to compete at the Ryder Cup if the decision goes against him - an outcome that is seen as a strong possibility given the DP World Tour's legal victory last year.
At LIV Golf Chicago, Rahm explained why he hadn't paid the fines, saying: "I’m not a big fan of the fines. I’ve been outspoken about the fines. I don’t intend to pay the fines and we keep trying to have a discussion with them about how we can make this happen."
As to why the LIV Golf proposals were rejected, the DP World Tour told Golf Monthly: “We met with them and listened to their proposal but did not accept it, as our view remains that the focus should continue to be on all stakeholders working together to reach an overall solution that benefits our sport."
Negotiations are still taking place between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund behind LIV Golf on a way for the newer circuit to co-exist with the established tours in the future.
Meanwhile, the report also states that the DP World Tour’s relationship with the PGA Tour via its strategic alliance is an “underlying reason” the proposal was rebuffed.
LIV Golf has declined to comment.
Mike has over 25 years of experience in journalism, including writing on a range of sports throughout that time, such as golf, football and cricket. Now a freelance staff writer for Golf Monthly, he is dedicated to covering the game's most newsworthy stories.
He has written hundreds of articles on the game, from features offering insights into how members of the public can play some of the world's most revered courses, to breaking news stories affecting everything from the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to developmental Tours and the amateur game.
Mike grew up in East Yorkshire and began his career in journalism in 1997. He then moved to London in 2003 as his career flourished, and nowadays resides in New Brunswick, Canada, where he and his wife raise their young family less than a mile from his local course.
Kevin Cook’s acclaimed 2007 biography, Tommy’s Honour, about golf’s founding father and son, remains one of his all-time favourite sports books.
-
Who Is Bud Cauley's Wife?
PGA Tour star Bud Cauley has been married to wife Kristi since 2021 - get to know her better here
By Mike Hall Published
-
Keegan Bradley Makes Second Hole-In-One Of 2025 At Another Iconic Venue
Keegan Bradley made an ace in the final round of The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass - and it's not the only iconic venue he's achieved it at this year
By Mike Hall Published
-
Joaquin Niemann Wins LIV Golf Singapore Title
The Chilean won his second LIV Golf event of the season thanks to a bogey-free 65 on Sunday in Singapore
By Elliott Heath Published
-
Jon Rahm Equals Bryson DeChambeau's LIV Golf Record After Strong Start In Singapore
The Legion XIII captain matched Bryson DeChambeau's record for consecutive scores under-par in the second round of LIV Golf Singapore
By Mike Hall Published
-
‘I Think It’s Dead, I Think The Other Side Is Gone’ - Lee Trevino Gives Take On PGA Tour-LIV Golf Divide And Calls For Players And Caddies To Speed Up
Lee Trevino was full of praise for the PGA Tour and its immediate future, as he believes that a deal with the Saudi PIF may not come at all
By Paul Higham Published
-
Dustin Johnson Goes From Worst To First At LIV Golf Singapore
After finishing dead last a week ago, Dustin Johnson fired a brilliant 63 to lead LIV Golf Singapore by three to quieten all the talk about his struggles
By Paul Higham Published
-
'They Need Us' - Bubba Watson Calls For Top 15 From LIV To Qualify For All The Majors
Bubba Watson says the top 15 players in the LIV Golf standings should all get into the Majors the following year - as the big four events need them
By Paul Higham Published
-
Brandel Chamblee Claims There Would Be 'Uproar On The PGA Tour' If LIV Golfers Were Allowed To Play Signature Events
The Golf Channel analyst claimed 'it would be wrong' if players from the LIV Golf League were allowed to play Signature Events on the PGA Tour
By Matt Cradock Published
-
How Can LIV Golf And PGA Tour Work Together? Paul McGinley Reveals Proposal For Unity
The former Ryder Cup captain explained how a PGA Tour and PIF merger could work, with McGinley claiming the circuits need to 'find some common ground'
By Matt Cradock Published
-
Brooks Koepka Addresses PGA Tour Return Rumors
The LIV player responded questions about a potential PGA Tour return following comments from Fred Couples who said he felt Koepka "wants to come back"
By Jonny Leighfield Published