Rahm and Hatton Appeal DP World Tour Sanctions as LIV Players Flood Championship
Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, prominent players from the LIV Golf tour, have officially appealed their DP World Tour sanctions and fines. The outcome remains uncertain, as the tour has not set a timeline for resolution. Meanwhile, the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is filled with LIV Golf players, raising questions about the tour's stance on the controversial Saudi-backed series.
Rahm and Hatton, who played in the Ryder Cup, are among the LIV Golf players competing on the DP World Tour this week. The tour has the right to fine and sanction its members for playing in LIV Golf tournaments without a conflicting events release. Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia have already paid substantial fines, reportedly exceeding $1m, to rejoin the circuit.
The DP World Tour's approach to LIV Golf players seems to be evolving. While initially strict, the tour may now be more open to their presence to boost ticket sales and TV ratings. Around a third of LIV Golf's entire roster is playing on the DP World Tour this week, indicating a potential shift in policy.
However, the future remains uncertain. A report suggests LIV Golf will no longer pay its players' DP World Tour fines next year, which could lead to membership resignations. Multiple DP World Tour players have continued to play in LIV Golf events while appealing their fines and sanctions. The tour has not yet provided a clear strategy for collaborating or competing with LIV Golf, with key figures like Jimmy Dunne and Ed Herlihy having resigned without a merger or long-term alliance with the PGA Tour finalized.
As the DP World Tour navigates its relationship with LIV Golf, players like Rahm and Hatton await the outcome of their appeals. The tour's openness to LIV Golf players could signal a new era, but the lack of a clear strategy and the potential impact of LIV Golf's reported change in fine payment policy leave the future uncertain. The tour's CEO, Guy Kinnings, will need to decide swiftly on a clear path forward.
