Row over LIV Golf rumbles on as sixteen DP World Tour players threaten legal action
- Planet Sport writer
- 1 July 2022
In the latest twist in the LIV Golf saga, sixteen DP World Tour players have threatened legal action if sanctions on them are not removed.
Some of the biggest stars on the DP World Tour have threated legal action in a bid to force the removal of sanctions for joining LIV Golf.
Sixteen of the Tour's biggest names, including Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter, were hit with £100,000 fines and have been banned from events, including the Scottish Open, for playing the first LIV Golf event at Centurion earlier this month.
The rise of the controversial Saudi-backed LIV Golf has seen the PGA Tour and DP World Tour strengthen their relationship, and the players have urged the latter to consider the consequences of that to themselves.
An open letter published in The Telegraph read: "In Mr Pelley's latest communication, he uses the statement that every action in life comes with a consequence.
"We agree, and we are concerned that the actions of the Tour against us, LIV Golf and golf in general will have adverse consequences on the DP World Tour, a tour and an organisation that, despite our recent interactions, we care deeply for.
"The intention of this letter is not to further divide us, but to respond to Tour statements and to pose questions that the Tour should answer and we should discuss in detail.
"Instead of spending our time, energy, financial resources and focus on appeals, injunctions, and lawsuits, we would implore you, the custodians of the DP World Tour, to reconsider your recent penalties and sanctions, and instead focus our energies on forging a path forward that is better for the DP World Tour members and the game of golf.
"To this end, we ask that you rescind your fines and suspensions by 5pm on Friday, July 1, 2022.
"In addition, we represent over 5 percent of the DP World Tour membership and, under its articles of association, we ask you to convene a meeting of Tour membership to discuss these important matters further.
"If not, you will leave us with no choice but to employ the various other means and methods at our disposal to rectify these wrongs."
A spokesperson for the DP World Tour confirmed that the letter had been received and said an official response would be released on Friday.