DP World Tour suspends and fines LIV Golf players; likes of Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood to miss Scottish Open

By Matt Smith
The DP World Tour on Friday confirmed that players who took part in the LIV Golf Invitational Tour in London will be fined and suspended, meaning the likes of Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood will miss Scottish Open — co-sanctioned with the PGA Tour — in July.

Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of DP World Tour, said: “Every action anyone takes in life comes with a consequence and it is no different in professional sport, especially if a person chooses to break the rules. That is what has occurred here with several of our members.

“Many members I have spoken to in recent weeks expressed the viewpoint that those who have chosen this route have not only disrespected them and our Tour, but also the meritocratic ecosystem of professional golf that has been the bedrock of our game for the past half a century and which will also be the foundation upon which we build the next 50 years.

“Their actions are not fair to the majority of our membership and undermine the Tour, which is why we are taking the action we have announced today.”

A statement from DP World Tour read:
“Such actions contravened the conflicting event Regulation laid down in the Members’ General Regulations Handbook as well as the Code of Behaviour Regulation, of which the members have been reminded on a number of recent occasions, and has led the Tour to take the following steps, which have been notified to all members concerned.

They will be fined £100,000*
They have been advised that they are suspended from participating in the following DP World Tour tournaments – the Genesis Scottish Open and Barbasol Championship (July 7-10) and the Barracuda Championship (July 14-17) and have been removed from the entry lists of these events where applicable.

“It is important to note that participation in a further conflicting tournament or tournaments without the required release may incur further sanctions.”