LIV Golf’s Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Richard Bland and Lee Westwood resigned from the DP World Tour on Wednesday, nearly a year after they and other golfers on the tour and on the PGA Tour signed with the Saudi-backed rival tour.
He dp world tour issued a statement officially announcing the players’ resignations, adding that this followed «breaches» of Tour rules to compete in LIV’s inaugural tournament last June.
Sergio Garcia tees off the third hole during day one of the 150th Open at St Andrews Old Course on July 14, 2022 in St Andrews, Scotland. (Warren Little/fake images)
«The DP World Tour would like to take this opportunity to thank all four players for the contribution they have made to the Tour and in particular Sergio, Ian and Lee for the important role they have played in Europe’s Ryder Cup success for many years. years,» the statement said.
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«However, their resignations, along with the sanctions imposed on them, are a consequence of their own choices.»
The statement continued: «As we have consistently maintained over the past year, it is the Tour’s responsibility to administer the membership regulations to which each player subscribes. These regulations are established to protect the collective interests of all DP World members of the Tour. tour».
Sergio Garcia, left, and Ian Poulter look on during the Pro-Am ahead of the LIV Golf Invitational at The Centurion Club on June 8, 2022 in St Albans, England. (Charlie Crowhurst/LIV Golf/Getty Images)
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The resignations follow a tour victory in court last month, when members who played at LIV Golf events last year were found to have violated the European tour’s code of conduct.
The ruling allowed the tour to impose fines of £100,000. However, rather than pay the fine, the four players apparently chose to quit.
Lee Westwood plays his second shot on the 13th hole during the second round of the Betfred British Masters hosted by Danny Willett at The Belfry on May 6, 2022 in Sutton Coldfield, England. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
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«I really couldn’t see any other option with all the punishment that was weighing on me,» Westwood told The Daily Telegraph, calling it a «sad day».
The European tour said a further update would be provided on Thursday.
Associated Press contributed to this report.