Watch the DPWT boss explain why he has 'no regrets' over Saudi association

DP World Tour chief executive Keith Pelley was asked if he 'regrets' association with the Saudis.

27 Apr 2023

Watch the DPWT boss explain why he has 'no regrets' over Saudi association

DP World Tour chief executive Keith Pelley has insisted he doesn't regret the European-based circuit's past association with the Saudis given everything that has transpired with LIV Golf.

Pelley is now in a position where he can talk a bit more freely, given Sports Resolutions upheld the tour's conflicting tournament release regulation and its ability to sanction members who breached it.

In recent weeks Pelley has highlighted Rory McIlroy's playing schedule as he hit back at his critics.

The main criticism the DP World Tour has faced and continues to face is that their relationship with the PGA Tour is very much one-way.

Would the DP World Tour be in a better position now if they partnered up with LIV Golf?

Some golf fans have suggested the aforementioned McIlroy's battle with Patrick Reed in Dubai made the tournament even more exciting.

Who knows what will happen going forward.

The DP World Tour previously hosted the Saudi International before it made the switch to the umbrella of the Asian Tour, which is also the beneficiary of LIV's financiers through the International Series.

Does Pelley regret this?

He told Eamon Lynch of Golf Today:

"No, you know, Eamon, we brought the Saudis into the game in 2019 with the Saudi International which was [the] first time that a professional golf tour had played in Saudi.

"But I don't look backwards, I look forwards. That was part of our tour. The Saudis put on a great event for our members and they did so in 2020.

"So I don't look back at that in any such way. The Saudis wanted to get involved in the game and if they hadn't got involved with us in the DP World Tour I believe they would have found another avenue. So I don't regret that.

"I just simply look forward and go, 'What is the next step and how do we better our product and how do we better our tour for our relationship with the PGA Tour."

Watch here:

.@eamonlynch asks Keith Pelley whether he would change anything about adding the Saudi International to the @DPWorldTour schedule in 2019. pic.twitter.com/001JDS9SQF
— Golf Today (@GCGolfToday) April 26, 2023

"That is correct"

We are now five months away from the Ryder Cup.

U.S. golfers Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson have made clear they very much want to be a part of Zach Johnson's plans.

As for Pelley, he recently confirmed that the decision to include LIV players is very much up to European captain Luke Donald.

Automatic qualification, clearly, now appears almost impossible for some LIV players.

Pelley confirmed to bunkered that Martin Kaymer, Sergio Garcia and Graeme McDowell will never be able to be future Ryder Cup captains or vice captains.

You can read more about that by clicking here.

What do you make of Pelley's comments? Why not send us a Tweet with your thoughts.