Pelley blasts LIV rebels over legal threats

Chief executive Keith Pelley has ridiculed the 16 players who have threatened the DP World Tour with legal action, asking if joining the Saudi rebel circuit is genuinely the move of players who claim to “care deeply” for the European circuit.

Telegraph Sport exclusively disclosed on Thursday that Wentworth headquarters had received a letter signed by each of the golfers competing in this week’s second LIV Golf Series event – including Ryder Cup heroes Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood – warning Pelley that unless their £100,000 fines and bans from next week’s Scottish Open were rescinded by 5pm yesterday they would bring in the lawyers. But the DP World Tour appears unlikely to cave in to such demands.

As well as holding a light to the players’ declarations in the fivepage “open letter” of long-term loyalty and support to the Tour, citing how many times they have played in Rolex Series events in the past five years, Pelley pointed to the fact one player signed a commitment to play in this week’s Irish Open – but is instead playing in the $25million LIV 54-holer in Portland, Oregon.

Pelley said that the letter contained “so many inaccuracies that it cannot remain unchallenged”. He added: “Before joining LIV Golf, players knew there would be consequences. Many at the time understood and accepted that.

“The letter claims these players ‘care deeply’ for the DP World Tour. An analysis of the past participation statistics 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 only four.”

LIV has promised to reimburse players for the £100,000 fine they incurred for playing in the first tournament at Centurion Club, despite being refused permission.

But other than seek an emergency injunction, there is nothing Greg Norman’s series can do to ensure the rebels can tee it up at the Renaissance Club next week in the $8 million Scottish Open that, for the first time, is jointly sanctioned with the PGA Tour.