The DP World Tour has issued a statement confirming that it has received membership resignations from Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter (pictured) and Lee Westwood, three of Europe’s most successful Ryder Cup players, who were sanctioned for breaches of the Tour’s Conflicting Tournament Regulation committed last June when all four players competed in the inaugural LIV Golf event at Centurion Club.
Their resignations means that that all four players will no longer be eligible to play in DP World Tour events or be able to qualify or be available for selection for the European Ryder Cup team either as players or future captains or vice captains.
Richard Bland, who won last year’s Betfred British Masters, but also joined LIV Golf last year, has also resigned his membership.
The statement read: “The DP World Tour would like to take this opportunity to thank the four players for the contribution they have made to the Tour and in particular to Sergio, Ian and Lee for the significant part they have played in Europe’s success in the Ryder Cup over many years.
Their resignations, however, along with the sanctions imposed upon them, are a consequence of their own choices.”
“As we have consistently maintained throughout the past year, the Tour has a responsibility to its entire membership to administer the member regulations which each player signs up to. These regulations are in place to protect the collective interests of all DP World Tour members.
“The independent panel appointed by Sport Resolutions recognised this, determining that our Conflicting Tournament Regulation and its application in the circumstances did not go beyond what was necessary and proportionate to the Tour’s continued operation as a professional golf tour and that we have a legitimate interest in protecting the rights of our full membership by enforcing it,” the statement concluded.
It is understood that 16 of the 17 DP World Tour players who took part in the first LIV Golf event in England have paid the £100,000 fine that was imposed for playing without a release, with Sergio Garcia being the only player that has so far failed to pay up ahead of the May 3 deadline, and, according to the tour, has ‘shown no inclination to do so’.
It is not yet known whether other DP World Tour members currently competing on the LIV Golf circuit, including Henrik Stenson, Thomas Pieters, Paul Casey, Bernd Wiesberger, Graeme McDowell and Martin Kaymer, will seek to retain their membership. The DP World Tour says it will issue an update on what further sanctions these players will face next week.