The DP World Tour declined a request from members of the LIV Golf Invitational Series to rescind their fines and permit their participation in the Scottish Open next week.
The field for the Scottish Open was released Friday evening, and no golfers linked to the Saudi-financed LIV circuit appeared on the list.
LIV players were banned from three upcoming DP World Tour events and fined £100,000 ($120,996) after playing in the LIV’s debut event outside London.
In a letter to the DP World Tour, 16 players asked for resolution by “5:00 p.m. on Friday.” Brits Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood were among those who signed the letter, hopeful they will be able to tee it up at the Scottish Open without taking their challenge through the court system.
“Instead of spending our time, energy, financial resources and focus on appeals, injunctions and lawsuits, we would implore you … to reconsider your recent penalties and sanctions,” the letter reads, according to the London Telegraph.
Players didn’t have to wait that long for a firm and apparently final response from DP World Tour chairman Keith Pelley.
“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,” Pelley’s statement read.
Fourteen of the top 15 players in the Official World Golf Ranking will play the Scottish Open, a tune-up for the Open Championship, which is being co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour for the first time. Only Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy choosing to sit out.
The LIV series began its first U.S.-based tournament Thursday outside Portland, Ore. LIV’s top-ranked golfer, Dustin Johnson, has fallen to No. 17 in the world ranking.
–Field Level Media
