LIV Golf rebels set to receive hefty fines from DP World Tour, according to reports
- Michael Schmitt
- 28 April 2023
A new report claims the DP World Tour is set to impose some heavy fines on members who defected to the breakaway LIV Golf Tour - a list that includes Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter.
According to reports, the DP World Tour is planning to impose significant fines on its members who joined the breakaway LIV Golf Tour.
This after the DP World Tour emerged victorious in its legal dispute with 12 LIV players who were found to have committed "serious violations" of the Tour's code of conduct.
A three-strong arbitration panel heard five days of arguments from lawyers for a group of LIV players and those representing the DP World Tour in February in an attempt to clarify the playing status of the former on the latter.
The case arose when players requested "conflicting event" releases in order to play the inaugural LIV Golf event outside London last June.
Those requests were denied but the players competed at Centurion Club regardless and were fined £100,000 and suspended from the Scottish Open.
Those punishments were put on hold as a number of LIV stars challenged the ruling, but now that the DP World Tour has emerged victorious, the Daily Mail reports the organisation is set to reimpose fines on the defectors for every single event they've taken part in since joining the tour.
With eight events taking place last year, and the fourth currently on the go in 2023, the fines for some players could total over £1million.
Players who have completed in all 12 events thus far include Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia and Graeme McDowell.
LIV Golf boss Greg Norman previously assured his players that the organisation would cover the cost of any litigation, but it's unclear if that would include the financial penalties incurred.
Norman previously promised the players LIV Golf would "defend, reimburse and represent" them amid the expected threat of potential legal action.
Shots like this have @b_dechambeau tied at the top of the pylon 📈#LIVGolf @crushers_gc pic.twitter.com/AR0zsTB9hq
— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) April 28, 2023
The LIV Singapore tournament at Sentosa Golf Club started on Friday, with Brooks Koepka, British Open champion Cam Smith and Sergio Garcia among those tied for the first-round lead on five under par before storms interrupted play.
Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau were among those tied for second place, one stroke behind.
