LIV Golf Loses Case Against DP World Tour and Likely Ends LIV Europeans’ Ryder Cup Hopes

While LIV Golf pros will be commingled with players on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour at the Masters this week and the other three majors, it appears those will be the only times we will see members of each group teeing off together.

A report from The Times of London states that the DP World Tour has won its case against LIV Golf and will be able to levy sanctions on members who are not authorized to play for LIV.

🔺 EXCLUSIVE: The DP World Tour has won its legal battle against LIV players and will now be able to impose sanctions of £100,000 fines on players who participate in conflicting events without a release https://t.co/MU7kpoRDj5

— Times Sport (@TimesSport) April 4, 2023

The DP World Tour didn’t comment on the report. “Out of respect for the confidentiality of the process conducted by Sport Resolutions, we will make no comment on any aspect of the arbitration until the decision is formally announced,” which the Times said is expected to be later this week. LIV Golf also had no comment.

After the first LIV Golf event last June, the DP World Tour denied members permission to play in the event and then fined them £100,000 and issued a two-tournament suspension after doing so.

A group of LIV players that reached 13 challenged the DP World Tour’s ruling. A three-person independent panel in the U.K. heard arguments over a week in February. One player challenging the ruling was Patrick Reed, who finished runner-up to Rory McIlroy in a DP World Tour event in Dubai in January.

Patrick Reed played his Monday practice round at the Masters decked out in 4Aces gear and totally alone.

Death Star mode *incoming* pic.twitter.com/VtJDDpt4od

— James Colgan (@jamescolgan26) April 4, 2023

While it’s unclear if the DP World Tour would ban players who are a part of the LIV circuit from their events and the Ryder Cup, those fines and suspensions would add up. It’s expected that players will give up their DP World Tour membership instead of face sanctions.

Sergio Garcia, Paul Casey, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, and Bernd Wiesberger were all part of the European Ryder Cup team in 2021 and are part of LIV Golf. In addition, Graeme McDowell and Martin Kaymer were vice captains of that team. Henrik Stenson, the original captain for the 2023 team, was removed from his post after joining LIV last fall and was replaced by Luke Donald.