European tour says anyone signing
with LIV Golf need not apply to play both circuits
[October 13, 2026]
By DOUG FERGUSON
The European tour has delivered an ultimatum to players
contemplating the new version of LIV Golf, saying anyone who joins
will not be allowed to be European tour members.
“Players need to make a choice,” Guy Kinnings, CEO of the European
tour, said in a statement Monday first reported by the BBC.
The DP World Tour, as it is commercially known, previously let LIV
players to keep their European membership as long as they paid fines
for playing LIV events that conflicted with the tour.
It extended an olive branch earlier this year to nine players,
allowing them to play LIV events without sanctions provided they
settled all previous fines and agreed to add European tour events to
their 2026 schedules.
Kinnings delivered a far stronger message — us or them — as LIV is
trying to emerge from bankruptcy stemming from Saudi Arabia's
sovereign wealth fund cutting off the financial support. LIV has
spent more than $5 billion since its launch in 2022.
LIV has the backing of up to $300 million from BC Partners as it
leans into a 10-tournament season with a focus on team competition
and players owning equity in LIV 2.0. Players have until Oct. 25 to
decide whether to stick with LIV, which could determine whether the
beleaguered circuit can move forward out of bankruptcy.
The European tour, however, is requiring anyone seeking to join to
disclose where they intend to play in 2027. The tour said it would
terminate membership if the disclosures prove false.
“As we have said for many years, we have rules and regulations which
are there to protect our tour and which our members must all abide
by,” Kinnings said. "Players who are not willing to comply with our
rules and regulations should not be seeking to join our tour.”
Players must be European tour members to compete in the Ryder Cup
next September, adding pressure to the likes of Tyrrell Hatton of
England, Tom McKibbin of Northern Ireland, Adrian Meronk of Poland
and Thomas Detry of Belgium.
An attorney for Jon Rahm said last week in a bankruptcy hearing for
LIV that the former No. 1 wanted to terminate his LIV contract. The
question for Rahm, a two-time major champion, is how he works his
way back to the PGA Tour.
[to top of second column] |
Captain Jon Rahm of Legion XIII celebrates after putting on the 18th
hole green during the final round of HSBC LIV Golf Hong Kong at Hong
Kong Golf Club Fanling, Sunday, March 8, 2026 in Hong Kong. (Mike
Stobe/LIV Golf via AP, File)
Sergio Garcia also asked to end his LIV contract,
and David Puig of Spain has indicated he is ready to take on a
European tour schedule.
The European tour is negotiating a renewed alliance with the PGA
Tour, which involves commercial opportunities and a path for the
leading 10 players on the Race to Dubai to get PGA Tour cards.
Patrick Reed and Eugenio Chacarra, who both previously played for
LIV Golf, are a lock to earn PGA Tour cards this year off the
European tour points list. Bernd Wiesberger of Austria, another
player who signed early with LIV, also has a chance at a tour card.
The plan of LIV 2.0 is to have such a streamlined schedule to allow
players to compete elsewhere. But the PGA Tour bans LIV players for
at least one year dating to their last LIV appearance, and now the
European tour is demanding them to pick a tour.
Scott O'Neil, who took over as LIV CEO when Greg Norman left, has
been preaching the phrase, “Complete, not compete,” as he sees the
new version of his league — without Saudi funding to offer as much
as nine-figure signing bonuses — to be complementary to other golf
tours.
“We shouldn’t live in a world where one group of golfers is uniquely
restricted from playing elsewhere,” O'Neil said in August when
laying the groundwork for LIV Golf 2.0. “Our goal isn’t to replace
or restrict any tour. Our mission is to bring something distinctive
to the ecosystem that elevates it and makes the whole game better.”
All contents © copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved
 |
