DP World Tour pro surprised at shock LIV Golf decision

English tour pro Eddie Pepperell has expressed his surprise at the DP World Tour's decision to ban LIV Golf players completely in 2027. 

The European-based circuit confirmed the surprise move on Monday. 

DP World Tour chief executive Guy Kinnings told BBC Sport that any player who signs up for a reimagined version of the rival league will not be able to be members next season. 

Deadlines for both tours are in the next five weeks. 

"I mean, immediately the surprise to me is this sounds somewhat anti-competitive, which has always been the thing that the DP World Tour have never done," Pepperell told the most recent edition of the Chipping Forecast. 

"In fact, quite the opposite, they've always made sure and stipulated very clearly they can only sanction a player if they're playing a LIV tournament that sits up against the DP World Tour event. 

"Now, it may well be the case that they're making different arguments in the latest rounds of regulations that us members have to sign up to, and it could make complete sense, it could point to more of the commercial realities in terms of them being a competitor on that front, and so there's that type of thing which does make sense, but it's a departure from what they've done in years gone past."

Pepperell was referring to the fact that LIV players have never been completely banned from the DP World Tour. 

Existing members who have teed up in LIV events since its launch in June 2022 without official releases have been hit with fines and suspensions. 

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund previously covered the fines, but stopped doing so in January 2025. 

The DP World Tour struck a deal with a group of nine LIV players earlier in the year to allow them to play on both circuits without being punished. 

That contingent, which included European Ryder Cup stars Tyrrell Hatton and Jon Rahm, agreed to pay what they owed, drop appeals and appear in stipulated events. 

The DP World Tour stressed at the time the deal was not precedent-setting. 

Now Kinnings and chiefs at Wentworth HQ want players to make a choice. 

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

It means that the likes of Hatton have until 25 October to decide if they want to be eligible for the European Ryder Cup team in 2027. 

Some players, such as veteran English golfer, Richard Bland, 53, have declared they will stay with LIV. 

"I would be stunned if Tyrrell and others follow Blandy's suit and decide to play on LIV as their only option," said Pepperell. 

"I can't see it happening. It'll be interesting to see how they [LIV players] are incorporated back into the DP World Tour.

"That's going to be very fascinating to see, I think, because obviously the Tour are going to have to do that carefully and respectfully, because there's a lot of members from the DP World Tour who are not going to be happy with just the opening of doors and playing opportunities back to 15, 20 players from LIV across the season, that's for sure."

Pepperell said he doesn't know what the DP World Tour have planned but he suspects that the net will not be spread particularly wide with regard to playing opportunities. 

He also questioned whether it would be fair for LIV players to bypass qualifying school if they have no status. 

"It's feasible that a number of players are going to be given a category that's going to be created out of thin air that will sit most certainly ahead of Q-School, which could be me again next year," he said. 

"And how fair is that? I would argue it's not fair at all. My view is that it doesn't matter who you are. 

"If you have no status, you go back to Q-School. That's the meritocratic way that golf has historically always been played and celebrated for, and to do away with that, I think, would be a real shame. 

"So, [there are] lots of things to consider, I guess, for [DPWT chief executive] Guy Kinnings, and it will all be under consideration.

"They're a very smart group of people."

Pepperell has always been a vocal critic of LIV since its inception. 

Asked whether the latest development could actually spell the end of the tour, Pepperell said: "LIV wasn't a success with Jon Rahm. 

"It didn't succeed in its previous iteration with all of the money and all of the supposed stars."

He added: "The players are saying it could still work. 

"But the reality is it's never going to work, never has done, never will do."