DP World Tour responds, following threats made by LIV Golf defectors
On Thursday 30th June 2022 a letter was published, that letter having already been delivered to DP World Tour. The letter was signed by 16 former DP World Tour players who had defected to LIV Golf. It included the threat that if the Tour did not rescind their fines and bans by 5.00 pm Friday, "you will leave us with no choice but to employ the various other means and methods at our disposal."
From Golf Monthly, by Elliot Heath:
In a letter obtained by The Telegraph, the 16 players, which will likely include Europeans such as Poulter, Westwood, Sergio Garcia, Graeme McDowell and Martin Kaymer, said that the Tour's actions to ban and fine players "will have adverse consequences on the DP World Tour."
The letter also 'implored' the DP World Tour to "reconsider your recent penalties and sanctions" and rescind the fines and suspensions by 5pm on Friday. If the Tour doesn't rescind the bans and fines, the players will be taking legal action. "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," the letter reads. Read the article and the letter here
Kieth Pelley noted that the letter "contains so many inaccuracies that it cannot remain unchallenged."
From DP World Tour, Friday July 1 2022:
Following on from media reports overnight, please see below a statement from DP World Tour Chief Executive Keith Pelley.
“There has been a leak to the media of a letter we received on behalf of a number of LIV Golf players which contains so many inaccuracies that it cannot remain unchallenged.
“Before joining LIV Golf, players knew there would be consequences if they chose money over competition. Many of them at the time understood and accepted that. Indeed, as one player named in the letter said in a media interview earlier this year; ‘If they ban me, they ban me.’ It is not credible that some are now surprised with the actions we have taken.
“The letter claims that these players ‘care deeply’ for the DP World Tour. An analysis of the past participation statistics on our Tour in recent years of several of the leading players named, suggests otherwise.
“One player in particular named in the note has only played six Rolex Series events in the past five years. Another one, only four. I wish many of them had been as keen to play on our Tour then as they seem to be now, based on the fact they have either resigned their membership of the PGA TOUR or, if they are still in membership, have been suspended indefinitely.
“Furthermore, given how deeply these players say they care about the DP World Tour, perhaps some of them could have played in Ireland this week in support of our new title sponsor, in particular one player who gave us a signed commitment to play at Mount Juliet.
“With that player currently in action at Pumpkin Ridge, you can imagine the allegation in the letter that we are in the wrong, is hard to accept." Read full statement here
0 comments