"This needs to happen" Westwood snubs video link evidence to face boss in person

LIV Golf player Lee Westwood has revealed he has "nothing to feel uncomfortable about" as he prepares for DP World Tour hearing.

Ben Smith's picture
Mon, 6 Feb 2023
"This needs to happen" Westwood snubs video link evidence to face boss in person

LIV Golf League player Lee Westwood says it "might feel a bit odd" when he comes face-to-face with DP World Tour chief executive Keith Pelley in London this week, but insists he's got "nothing to feel uncomfortable about". 

Westwood has already given a written statement ahead of the five-day hearing that will effectively decide if LIV Golf players can be banned from the European-based circuit and subsequently forced out of Ryder Cup qualifying. 

There is some confusion about what is happening. It is not a court case. It is an arbitration hearing being overseen by Sports Resolutions UK. 

Related: Is the DP World Tour better with LIV Golf players allowed? 

It is being held behind closed doors and overseen by a three-person panel. Two KCs and a former high court judge, Phillip Sycamore, will hear arguments by the DP World Tour and the appellants. 

The hearing will focus on the DP World Tour's conflicting event release regulation.

Related: Chamblee reveals "hypocritical" Greg Norman texts

DP World Tour members who played in LIV's curtain-raising event at Centurion Club last June were hit with £100,000 fines and suspended from the Genesis Scottish Open, Barbasol Championship and Barracuda Championship. 

Former World No.1 Westwood, who was among the first wave of players to join the breakaway series last summer, previously accused the Tour's management of spreading anti-LIV propaganda in an email to players. 

Pelley, whilst not naming Westwood, claimed that one LIV player had "upset staff" with comments made during the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship that also saw the return of Henrik Stenson, who was sacked as Ryder Cup Europe captain after he joined LIV. 

Like Stenson, Westwood's position is that the Tour had no right to impose the sanctions. 

Stenson previously said:

"There are multiple tours in the world. As long as you fulfil your [membership] criteria and earn your right to be there, you should be able to play in as many tournaments as you like."

Westwood told the Telegraph's Jamie Corrigan:

"We all gave written statements and thought that might be enough, but I have been asked to give evidence at the hearing and, as I'm in London on Tuesday, will go along then.
"They said I could do it over an internet link, but I've got nothing to feel uncomfortable about so am happy to go in person."

He added: 

"It might feel a bit odd, yes. But this probably needs to happen to get some resolution.
"There's been plenty said and it will be good for impartial judges to decide and then we can all get on with it.
"I don't know about appeals and what have you, and I may be wrong, but as far as I'm concerned this will draw a line and that will be it.
"We don't know when we will get a decision – it won't be immediate – but I've been advised it will probably be two to three weeks." 

Next page: Billy Horschel makes LIV Golf League confession