LIV rebels take ban fight to court
Players from ‘Saudi 16’ seek reprieve for Scottish Open Casey is surprise recruit after taking ‘ethical’ stand in past
Golf ’s civil war will finally reach the courts today if, as expected, players on the Saudi rebel circuit attempt to secure a court injunction to be reinstated in this week’s Scottish Open.
The DP World Tour received a letter last week signed by the 16 professionals competing in the second LIV Golf Series event, demanding a reprieve from the sanctions imposed for breaking the circuit’s rules for appearing in the inaugural tournament without permission. However, Wentworth HQ remained resolute, with chief executive Keith Pelley calling the £100,000 fines and exclusion from the $8million (£6.6million) field for the Renaissance Club “fair and proportionate” and allowing the Friday deadline set by the “Saudi 16” to pass.
Sources indicate that some of the mutineers will now try to convince a judge to force the Tour to provide an emergency order to reinsert their names for the Scottish Open, which starts on Thursday and includes 14 of the world’s top 15.
It is understood that roughly half of the LIV players submitted entries to appear in the traditional Open Championship prep event. Both the DP World Tour and LIV declined to comment. This is the first jointly sanctioned event between the PGA Tour and DP World Tour and after issuing indefinite bans to members who disobeyed his LIV edict, the Sawgrass commissioner would not be impressed if any appeared in East Lothian. Ian Poulter is just one dualmember, but although it is believed that the Englishman did enter the Scottish Open, it is unknown if he is seeking an injunction.
LIV has vowed to reimburse the players for the £100,000 fines, but Greg Norman, the chief executive, also confirmed in May that the Saudi-funded enterprise was prepared to back the pros committed to the series if they wanted to use the legal route. “We’re going to back up the players, we’re going to be there for them,” he said. “We’re ready to go.” Patrick Reed was listed in the Scottish field
but removed last night. The 2018 Masters champion made his LIV debut in Portland, Oregon, finishing third behind Branden Grace, the South African who walked away from Pumpkin Ridge with more than £3million. Reed has resigned his PGA Tour membership, but, as a honorary life member of the DP World Tour, has expressed his intention to carry on participating on the circuit.
The LIV roster is continuing to grow with Paul Casey, the 44-yearold Englishman, the latest capture. The former world No3 will make his series debut at the third event in Bedminster, New Jersey. Before that Casey, who just over three years ago declined the chance to play in Saudi on ethical grounds, is due to play in the 36-hole JP Mcmanus Pro-am that starts today in Co Limerick and then in the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews from July 14-17.
The LIV issue is bound to be the talk of Adare Manor – venue for the 2027 Ryder Cup – particularly with other rebels including Poulter, Lee Westwood, Bryson Dechambeau and Dustin Johnson in the field. Tiger Woods, Rory Mcilroy and Scottie Scheffler also play in the huge fund-raiser.