THE DP World Tour has fined members who played in the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational Series event £100,000 apiece and banned them from the upcoming Genesis Scottish Open and two other tournaments.
Players like Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia all joined the Saudi-backed breakaway venture at Hertfordshire earlier this month despite not having received releases to do so.
The PGA Tour indefinitely banned all its members within minutes of the players teeing off at Centurion Club but the DP World Tour delayed making a decision.
However, citing a breach of regulations it has now imposed sanctions, which in addition to the six-figure fines includes removing all involved from the Scottish Open, which is held the week before the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews, plus the Barbasol Championship the same week as the Scottish Open and the Barracuda Championship, which takes place the week of the Open.
The DP World Tour also said any subsequent involvement in the LIV Golf Series, whose next event starts in Portland, Oregon, next week, may result in additional punishments.
“It is important to note that participation in a further conflicting tournament or tournaments without the required release may incur further sanctions,” said a statement.
Keith Pelley, chief executive of the 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.”
