DP World Tour Win Will 'Make It More Difficult' For LIV Players To Feature In Ryder Cup

DP World Tour CEO Keith Pelley has admitted that it will now be hard for LIV Golf players to reach the Ryder Cup

DP World Tour CEO Keith Pelley at the 2021 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth
DP World Tour CEO Keith Pelley admits LIV Golf players will find it difficult to reach the Ryder Cup
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Following the confirmation that the DP World Tour has won its legal battle against LIV Golf, CEO of the European circuit, Keith Pelley has admitted its players now face a struggle to represent Team Europe in the Ryder Cup.

LIV Golf players with DP World Tour memberships, including Ryder Cup legends Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia, would have been hoping for a different result from Sports Resolution, allowing them to resume their careers on the Tour and the chance to qualify for the Ryder Cup without fear of sanctions.

However, even though the result didn’t go their way, they can still technically qualify for Luke Donald’s team for the biennial tournament as they have not been stripped of their memberships. 

That’s something Pelley acknowledged following the announcement. He said: “In a broad brush, they still can play. As long as you’re a member of the DP World Tour you can qualify for one of the six spots or in fact you can get selected by Luke Donald with one of his six picks. And that’s always been the case. “

Nevertheless, he also admitted that, realistically, it is unlikely they will be able to qualify given the packed LIV Golf League schedule and potential sanctions that could come their way for continuing on the newer circuit.

He said: “The challenge is now depending upon what transpires with the sanctions that we impose down the road, that might make it more difficult for them to play in DP World Tour qualifying events, but more importantly, they have commitments, we all know they have commitments to play on another tour that conflict with DP World Tour qualifying events and that will make it harder for them to qualify. But it's also very important to understand that that decision has been their choice. “

It has not been confirmed what sanctions could be imposed on LIV Golf players by the DP World Tour. However, among its powers would be fines or suspensions for competing on LIV events, which could persuade some of its players to rescind their DP World Tour memberships.

Regardless of what transpires, Pelley insisted it is the right decision for the Tour and its members. He continued: “I think it's a very good day for our membership. It's a very good day that we can administer our rules and regulations that have been put in by our members, for our members, to protect our members. So that's very, very positive."

Pelley also stated his desire to look ahead after what has been a protracted process: “I also believe now that perhaps we can now move on,” he explained. “Yes, there is a lot of analytical work to be done on what our next steps are going to be but we can also now focus on looking ahead and looking at what our 2024 schedule is going to be. And that's exciting.

“So we're delighted about what transpired today but we're also equally as excited about the future and with the 2024 schedule entails.”

The decision also means the $100,000 fines originally imposed on LIV Golf players for teeing it up in the first event will now need to be paid.

Mike Hall
News Writer

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.