When the European golfers signed that lucrative contract with LIV Golf, the DP World Tour sanctioned millions of fines on these golfers. Surprisingly, instead of paying those fines, the pros decided to withdraw their European Tour membership. But after three years, Sergio Garcia reapplied for his card for the 2025 season in a bid to be in the Ryder Cup at Bethpage. Garcia could only do so after paying $2.4 million in remaining fines.

The contrasting fact is, unlike Garcia, Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton didn’t have to pay any fine to play on the European Tour or to qualify for the European Ryder Cup team. Is there a double standard that the DP World Tour judges different players with? The veteran European pro, Ian Poulter, was asked at the Flushing It Golf podcast why he, Garcia, and others were fined ferociously while Hatton and Rahm could appeal theirs.

He said, “It’s quite simple. The European Ryder Cup team need Jon [Rahm] and Tyrrell [Hatton]. They don’t need me. They don’t need Henrik [Stenson], they don’t need Lee [Westwood]. We are less of a value as a voice within that team today, as a voice [or] as a player, right?” The seven-time Ryder Cupper further added that neither he nor Stenson or Westwood were planning to play in more Ryder Cups like Hatton and Rahm are. That’s why they are of more value and, “They [DP World Tour] are willing to help them out in every way they can.”

But this is not the only reason why the European Tour is mandating millions of fines on veteran golfers and not the young stars. Poulter has shared a dark reality that no one ever talked about.

Ian Poulter says the European Tour is seeking monetary benefits 

Ian Poulter has always shared that he did not think that he needed to pay the fines to play on the European Tour. He argued that before joining LIV Golf; he played on other Tours as well, but he wasn’t fined then, so why now? But as three years have passed, the European Tour probably wants these golfers to return to their den. Poulter agreed.

He explained, “Because Sergio is going to have to pay £2.4 million by the time the next Ryder Cup comes along. And so is Jon. If they have that fine on the same scale, and they have to pay their fines, if they choose their route, then you can do the math.” He may have to pay £1.4 million every season to remain eligible for the Ryder Cup as the DP World Tour fines £100k for every LIV Golf event they play. The Englishman took a jab that if you add all these fines, then it all comes out to be 10s of millions of pounds. And the European Tour has a monetary gain from getting players like Garcia back on the Tour because they will be making a lot of money.

That’s the reason why Poulter has been appalled by these fines, which he would probably never pay as he doesn’t intend to be a part of the European Tour. Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton appealed their sanctions, and that’s why, their future depends on the verdict. Whereas, the European Tour won a case against all the European players except the two and they have to pay all their fines before rejoining the league. Is it fair for the DP World Tour to have different rules for different players?