The DP World Tour has warned its players that they will be threatening the long-term future of the circuit if they appear in the $225 million Saudi rebel series that starts in London this June.
Keith Pelley, the Tour’s chief executive, made no qualms of spelling out the risks in a confidential email sent to approximately 200 members earlier this week and since seen by Telegraph Sport. Pelley has the power to issue bans but clearly does not want to force the issue and instead, on the Tour’s 50th anniversary, is pleading with the pros to choose history over money.
Dual members of the PGA and European Tours have until Monday to enter their applications for waivers to compete in the opening LIV Golf Series event in St Albans next month and while Pelley explained that he and his “executive team” will “review each request received on a case-by-case basis” he asked the golfers to look at the “wider context”.
For those who do have invites for the LIV tournaments that will mean choosing to play in an event with a $2m purse instead of one with a $25million prize fund – a 1,150 per cent differential. The likes of Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell and Martin Kaymer are thought to be targets, as the Saudis attempt to get their breakaway circuit off the ground after a number of setbacks.
“Conflicting events, regardless of how attractive they might appear to you personally, potentially compromise our efforts in these areas and could significantly hurt your Tour in both the short and long term,” Pelley wrote.
“Please, therefore, continue to bear this bigger picture in mind, particularly considering some of these conflicting events in 2022 are scheduled directly opposite some of our most prestigious ‘heritage events’, including the Horizon Irish Open, the DS Automobiles Italian Open and the Acciona Open de España – three national Opens which combined…
Source : yahoo
