‘Players Knew There Would Be Consequences’: DP World Tour CEO Responds to the Threat by LIV Golf Players

As a response to the DP World Tour for banning and imposing a £100,000 fine, the LIV Golf players sent a letter. And the European Tour CEO Keith Pelley has released a bold reply to them through an official open statement.

According to reports, the letter the 16 DP World players, who have joined the Saudi-backed league, have sent had a threatening tone. They had asked the CEO to lift the ban and fine and let them play in the upcoming Scottish Open. Reportedly, the players have threatened the Tour to use “various other means” to be able to play in the Tour events again.

The response from the DP World Tour CEO to its banned players

The contents of the letter were leaked to the media somehow, thus making the entire golf world know about it. Therefore, Keith Pelley, the CEO of the European Tour, began the statement by acknowledging the leak. He also stated that the said letter contained many inaccuracies from the golfers’ end. 

“Before joining LIV Golf, players knew there would be consequences if they chose money over the competition,” he added. “Many of them at the time understood and accepted that.” 

He also included that one particular member had even accepted that he doesn’t care about the Tour banning him from its events. “It is not credible that some are now surprised with the actions we have taken,” the statement further read. 

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Pelley also alleged how the players have added in the letter that they “care deeply” about the DP World Tour. However, according to him, if they had cared about it, they wouldn’t have joined the league. 

He also explained that one player had given them a signed commitment to play at Mount Juliet this week. However, instead of playing at the already committed Irish Open, he chose to play at the second Invitational Series event in Portland.

Did the Tour CEO lift the punishments of the LIV Golf players? 

Ban from three upcoming Tour events and a £100,000 fine were the punishments the European Tour had imposed on players for joining the LIV Golf. And the members wanted the Tour to reconsider the said punishment. 

“The sanctions for those members who knowingly broke our rules by playing at the Centurion Club without a release are proportionate,” the CEO’s statement read. “…fair and, I believe, considered necessary by the majority of our members.” 

What do you think of the bold statement from the DP World Tour CEO to its players?

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