“Not as beautiful as it sounds”: Insider questions DP World Tour’s LIV deal

The DP World Tour’s decision to grant eight members conditional releases to compete in conflicting LIV Golf events during the 2026 season was billed as a significant breakthrough.

But according to a GolfMagic source with inside knowledge of the agreement, the reality is more complex.

On Saturday, the DP World Tour confirmed that Tyrrell Hatton, Laurie Canter, Thomas Detry, Tom McKibbin, Adrian Meronk, Victor Perez, David Puig and Elvis Smylie have accepted terms allowing them to play LIV Golf events this season without further disciplinary action. Notably absent from the list: Jon Rahm.

In a statement, the DP World Tour confirmed that each player agreed to specific conditions in exchange for their release. Those terms include paying all outstanding fines for breaches of Tour Regulations, competing in additional stipulated DP World Tour events, fulfilling associated media obligations and withdrawing all pending appeals.

The DP World Tour wrote in a statement: "The conditions these members have accepted will provide additional value to the DP World Tour and benefit to the entire membership.

"Provided each member satisfies the conditions of their individual releases, no disciplinary action under the Regulations will be taken against them for playing in conflicting tournaments on LIV Golf in 2026 and they will retain their membership status.

"The releases apply for the 2026 season only and they are not precedent-setting. Requests for releases will continue to be considered on their individual merits in accordance with the Regulations that all members agree to abide by.”

On paper, it represents a one-season compromise: comply with the terms, avoid sanctions, retain membership. 

But our source suggests the finer details tell a different story.

"That agreement is not as beautiful as it sounds," an insider told GolfMagic.

"Even though it's great they are letting LIV Golf players compete in tournaments, it's got a couple of lines of small print that is not ideal.

"They make you play extra tournaments, choose where you have to play and also you have to drop all the lawsuits if you have any so you can't sue them any more. And they can still come back and fine you if they want to, so it's a little bit of a tricky one."

The requirement to drop appeals is significant. Several players, including Rahm and Hatton, had been contesting sanctions imposed after their move to LIV Golf. By signing the agreement, those legal challenges are withdrawn.

The obligation to play additional specified events — rather than solely events of the player’s choosing — further tightens the framework.

While eight players accepted those terms, Rahm did not.

According to Today's Golfer, Rahm rejected the agreement over two core issues: payment of his outstanding fines and the commitment to additional DP World Tour appearances.

The Spaniard has reportedly accumulated fines totalling up to $2.5 million since joining LIV Golf. Alongside the Englishman, he had been appealing those sanctions — a case that placed both players’ Ryder Cup eligibility under scrutiny.

Hatton has now settled.

By paying his fines, withdrawing from the appeal and agreeing to the Tour’s conditions, Hatton clears the way to compete in LIV events in 2026 without further penalties — and, crucially, keeps himself eligible for selection at Adare Manor.

Rahm’s position is less certain.

By declining the deal and continuing his appeal, his Ryder Cup future remains unresolved, leaving one of Europe’s most influential players facing an increasingly complicated path back into contention.

The DP World Tour has stressed the releases apply to 2026 only and are not precedent-setting.

For now, eight players have chosen compromise in exchange for clarity.

But as our source put it, the agreement may not be quite as “beautiful” as it first appeared.