Exclusive: Multiple winner slams DP World Tour’s ‘weak’ LIV Golf decision

Joost Luiten has branded the prospect of former LIV Golf players returning to the DP World Tour in 2027 a “weak decision”, warning that their return could come at the expense of emerging talent.

Speaking exclusively to GolfMagic, the six-time DP World Tour winner questioned whether past LIV Golf players should be allowed to return and enjoy the same privileges as those who remained on the circuit. 

With LIV Golf facing an uncertain future, the DP World Tour faces a difficult decision over exemptions, invitations and member rights. 

But Luiten believes the interests of young pros trying to earn their place via the HotelPlanner Tour and Q-School must not be overlooked.

“Yes, they [LIV Golf players] will probably come back, but I think it would be a weak decision by our Tour and, more importantly, unfair to all the young talent working incredibly hard to earn their place through the HotelPlanner Tour and Q-School,” Luiten told GolfMagic.

Luiten, 40, added: “My concern is that many of the tournament invitations will end up going to LIV players, leaving fewer opportunities for young talents and local players.

“For me, it's not about being against anyone coming back. It's about protecting the opportunities for future talent and showing respect to the players who remained loyal to the DP World Tour.”

Luiten: Those who left for LIV Golf should face the consequences

Luiten believes players who left both the DP World Tour and PGA Tour to take the lucrative pay cheques on offer at LIV Golf should not expect to regain their previous privileges without consequences.

“Players who voluntarily gave up their memberships shouldn't be able to come back so easily and expect to regain all the benefits and privileges they previously enjoyed,” the World No.168 told GolfMagic. “I have nothing against them [LIV players] returning, but I do believe there should be consequences.”

Luiten understands officials want established names but says strengthening fields cannot be the only priority.

The DP World Tour also faces significant financial challenges as it considers how best to strengthen its tournaments and attract bigger names. A recent deep dive from the Money In Sport newsletter painted a grim picture of the Tour’s finances, revealing that it recorded an operating loss of nearly £65 million in 2025. 

The PGA Tour also invested £59 million over the same period.

Against that backdrop, the return of established LIV Golf players could offer a potential boost to tournament fields and commercial appeal. 

However, Luiten believes any benefits must be weighed against the impact on existing members and the opportunities available to emerging talent on the DP World Tour. 

“I understand for the DP World Tour that it is a tough decision, because they want the strongest fields and the best product, but I would not forget that those [players] took the money and that our Tour wasn't good enough for them anymore,” Luiten told GolfMagic. 

“Young talent and everybody else have to go through Q-School or the HotelPlanner Tour to get onto the DP World Tour, so why should that be any different?”

Luiten disagrees with Westwood

Lee Westwood argued earlier this weekend that players who still hold an exemption should be able to return to the DP World Tour.

“Anyone with an exemption should be free to come back because, as we know, the DPWT endorses members going to another rival Tour and already have 10 cards for it, but if people don't have an exemption they should have to go through the school like everyone else,” said Westwood. 

The 25-time European Tour winner also questioned the relationship between the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour, adding: “Anyone that thinks the PGA Tour aren't rivals and are partners are either blind or fools.”

When GolfMagic put Westwood's latest comments to Luiten, the Dutchman challenged the idea that exemptions should survive after a player gives up their membership.

He said: “Exemptions are for members of the Tour. If you gave it up, giving up that membership means giving up the exemptions as well, right?!”

Luiten also criticised the prospect of former LIV players returning to the DP World Tour during an interview with Today's Golfer last week.

“They should make it harder for guys to come back,” he told TG's Ben Parsons. “Four years ago they didn't give a s*** about the DP World Tour. They made a decision to go after the money, and now all of a sudden, the money is gone and they want to come back and act like nothing happened. I don't think that's right.” 

Pepperell takes aim at certain LIV players wanting back on DPWT 

Two-time DP World Tour winner Eddie Pepperell has also questioned whether established LIV players should receive tournament invitations ahead of professionals who have continued competing on the circuit. 

Writing at depth in his latest Chipping Forecast column, Pepperell described the potential DP World Tour inclusion of the likes of Charles Howell III, Thomas Pieters, Branden Grace and Louis Oosthuizen as difficult to understand.

“The idea that Charles Howell III is on this list, with all due respect to Charles — he's a terrific guy — is utterly bizarre,” he wrote.

Similarly to Luiten, the 35-year-old Englishman warned that the prospect of losing playing opportunities to returning LIV players could leave existing DP World Tour members feeling betrayed, particularly those who have had to fight their way back through Q-School.

“As someone who has gone through the wringer this game provides... and who has gone back to Q School and had two immensely divergent experiences, betrayal feels like the right word,” wrote Pepperell. 

“And unfortunately... loss of respect... resentment and contempt. I don't want to feel resentment or contempt towards the DPWT... but I'm afraid it is an inevitability and I most probably won't be the only one.”

Pepperell also questioned the commercial argument for bringing former LIV players back, writing: “None of these players are going to put enough bums on seats or in front of TVs to materially improve the balance sheet in 2027, period.”

Three-time DP World Tour winner Marco Penge backed his compatriot's comments, replying: “Well said, it's pretty simple. I think the reason for leaving the DP World Tour to go to LIV kinda speaks for itself.”

Some LIV players heading to DP World Tour Q-School

While the debate over exemptions continues, four LIV Golf players have entered the Second Stage of DP World Tour Q-School.

Jose Luis Ballester, Luis Masaveu, Sam Horsfield and Michael La Sasso are entered for qualifying at venues across Spain from October 29 to November 1.

La Sasso won LIV Golf's final tournament of the season in August.

Their entries highlight another potential route for players seeking DP World Tour playing rights, through qualifying rather than relying on invitations or exemptions. 

However, competition will be fierce, with just 15 cards available at Q-School Final this year, down from 20 last year.

DPWT boss delivers LIV ultimatum

The DP World Tour’s stance on LIV Golf has also come into sharper focus ahead of the 2027 season, with chief executive Guy Kinnings setting out the importance of complying with the Tour’s rules.

Around 15 LIV Golf players, including Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, David Puig, Adrian Meronk and Tom McKibbin, currently have DP World Tour status, meaning they retain eligibility through one of the Tour’s membership categories.

However, other prominent LIV players, including Joaquin Niemann (who is expected to leave), Howell III and Pieters, do not have the same status and would need to find another route to secure playing opportunities.

Niemann is LIV's record nine-time winner. 

According to BBC Sport, those players would either need to come through Q-School or agree arrangements with the DP World Tour that would grant them invitations to a set number of tournaments. 

Crucially, those agreements would only be available to players who were not part of LIV Golf in the future.

BBC Sport has reported that the DP World Tour will not accept membership applications from players intending to compete on the proposed LIV Golf 2.0 circuit, placing further pressure on golfers to decide where their futures lie.

In statements to BBC Sport, Kinnings made the DP World Tour’s position clear.

“Players need to make a choice,” he said.

Kinnings continued: “We have rules and regulations which are there to protect our tour and which our members must all abide by.”

He also outlined the consequences for players unwilling to comply with those rules.

“Players who are not willing to comply with our rules and regulations should not be seeking to join our Tour,” he said.

The distinction between existing status and future eligibility is significant. While some LIV players may retain a route to DP World Tour events through their current membership arrangements, those without status could face a much more difficult path back.

DPWT faces difficult decision

Ahead of its 2027 season, the DP World Tour must balance its desire to attract strong fields with the interests of existing members and emerging professionals.

Luiten's argument is not necessarily that former LIV players should be permanently excluded. Rather, he believes they should not automatically regain the benefits they previously enjoyed after choosing to leave.

With LIV Golf's 2.0 future uncertain and players exploring different options, the debate over who can return — and on what terms — is likely to intensify ahead of next season.

Luiten, meanwhile, has been enjoying a strong run of form, finishing tied fifth at the DP World India Championship for his third top-15 result in four starts.

The Dutchman currently sits just outside the top 50 in the Race to Dubai rankings, but is safely through to next month’s Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship. 

He will need to break into the top 50 after that event to secure his place at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.

As the DP World Tour considers its options for 2027, Luiten believes it must strike a balance between welcoming back established names and protecting opportunities for players working their way onto the circuit.

While young professionals will continue to have routes through the HotelPlanner Tour and Q-School, an influx of former LIV Golf players could make it harder for them to secure tournament starts and establish themselves at the highest level.

How the DP World Tour handles potential returns could therefore have a significant bearing on the competitive landscape in 2027, with Luiten urging officials not to overlook the players who remained loyal to the circuit.