Westwood Fears for DP World Tour as LIV Golf Winds Down
Lee Westwood says he is worried about the future of the DP World Tour, the Europe-based circuit, after the collapse of LIV Golf. BBC Sport reports that LIV has confirmed it will wind down operations after Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund withdrew its financial support.
LIV was the Saudi-backed breakaway tour that began in 2022 and attracted several high-profile players, Westwood among them. Potential new investors have now pulled out of a deal that would have backed LIV in a new form. Westwood did not commit to a successor, which has been called LIV 2.0. He described himself as "unemployed" while he considers his next move.
The link between the two tours matters here. The PGA Tour, the main American circuit, and the DP World Tour extended their strategic alliance in July. That deal includes Annual Investment Payments, which are yearly sums of money. The PGA Tour's payment to the DP World Tour was £59m last year. The PGA Tour also hands out tour cards, the tickets that let a player compete for a full season, to the top 10 finishers on the DP World Tour who are not already members.
Westwood expects the PGA Tour to "play hardball" with its European counterpart over the DP World Tour's future. He has also suggested that Europe's best players may be better off on the Korn Ferry Tour, the American feeder circuit that sends players up to the PGA Tour. The PGA Tour calls the Korn Ferry Tour its "premier pathway" and says it offers 20 cards. Brian Rolapp is the PGA Tour's chief executive, and Guy Kinnings runs the DP World Tour.
The PGA Tour announced a new competitive structure in June. It includes a Championship Series, a limited group of events co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour, and a lower-tier Challenger Series. The DP World Tour has so far announced the prize fund for just one event in 2027, the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in January.
Some of the ground rules for LIV players are already in place. They were banned from the PGA Tour but could still play some DP World Tour events. Golf Digest has reported that the DP World Tour allowing LIV players back has upset members who stayed loyal, who fear it could come at their expense. Westwood and Ian Poulter have both paid DP World Tour fines for playing LIV events without releases, the permission needed to play elsewhere.
The next date to watch is 16 November. That is the deadline for LIV golfers to reapply for DP World Tour membership. Westwood said he is still deliberating whether to do so. He also said he has "no regrets" about turning down the chance to captain Team Europe in the Ryder Cup so that he could play on LIV. He may also have to serve a suspension before he can return to either the PGA Tour or the DP World Tour.
Westwood is a former world number one, so a decision from him would carry weight with fans. For now, the picture is unsettled. The players' tour, the money behind it and the route back to America all depend on decisions still to come.
