Keith Pelley has hit back at the 16 LIV Golf players who threatened to take legal action after being banned from the Genesis Scottish Open and fined £100,000 for playing in the first Saudi-backed event without a release.
The DP World Tour CEO was given until 5pm today to respond to the letter – signed by the likes of Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter – which demanded the sanctions dished out be overturned.
Instead, Pelley called out the “many inaccuracies” in a scathing statement that also questioned claims the players “care deeply” for what was formerly the European Tour.
The divide that is now well established between the rival tours threatens to fracture the game and has even strained some player relationships to breaking point. Golf Monthly revealed earlier this week there has been a “complete deterioration” in the friendship between Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia, while Fred Couples admitted he may never speak to Phil Mickelson again.
Pelley’s response in full:
“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…
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