Report: Why the DP World Tour will resume fining LIV Golf players in 2027

The lack of clarity over LIV Golf's future schedule is the driving force behind the DP World Tour's (DPWT) decision to reinstate its policy of fining and suspending players from the breakaway tour, according to a report. 

According to The Athletic, the European-based circuit has begun the process of informing LIV Golf players it is "highly unlikely" they will be granted conditional releases next season.

The DPWT has handed out heavy fines and suspensions to LIV players since the breakaway tour's inception for competing in the rival league without official permission.

Several high-profile players, such as Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood, took the DPWT to a sports arbitration panel over the sanctions but resigned their memberships after the decision was upheld.

In February, however, the DPWT struck a deal with eight LIV players for the 2026 campaign.

Laurie Canter, Thomas Detry, Tyrrell Hatton, Tom McKibbin, Adrian Meronk, Victor Perez, David Puig and Elvis Smylie were allowed to compete on both tours without being fined. 

In return, the players agreed to settle previous fines, drop appeals and participate in additional DP World Tour events.

At the time, the DPWT stressed that the deal was not precedent-setting. 

Jon Rahm initially refused the offer but later reached an agreement of his own.

But according to The Athletic, the goalposts have shifted again and the DPWT is prepared to impose heavy-handed fines and tournaments suspensions again as part of its conflicting events rule. 

Golf Digest's Evin Priest has reported that the driving force behind the decision is simply because the DPWT doesn't know what LIV's 2027 schedule will look like. 

And it appears that the 2.0 version of the league wants to focus on national opens. 

Priest posted on X:

Spoke to some DPWT sources about the fact it is “highly unlikely” LIV golfers would be granted conditional releases in 2027. Big reason is DPWT doesn’t know LIV’s schedule, and the fact national opens were a part of LIV’s plans. Landscape is dramatically different to when DPTWT agreed to 2026 conditional releases. The European circuit oversees 17 national opens.

The situation will serve some of the league's biggest stars with a career ultimatum. 

LIV Golf previously covered players' fines but stopped doing so from 1 January 2025. 

It will also give Rahm and Hatton another Ryder Cup headache if they are to say with the league. 

Both players were allowed represent Europe in the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black as they were in the process of appealing previous fines. 

Those appeals were waved when the agreements were signed in February. 

The latest development comes amid reports that LIV players have been told the season-ending Team Championship has been cancelled. 

Tickets for the $40m event in Michigan cannot now be purchased online. 

LIV Golf have still not officially commented. 

Elsewhere, LIV insiders are reportedly resigned to the fact that Rahm will quit the league. 

Telegraph Sport reported on Thursday that the two-time major champion is expected to make a final decision on his future plans in the next few weeks but is likely to walk away. 

In that scenario, Rahm would likely fill up his 2026-2027 schedule with plenty of DP World Tour events before eyeing a return to the PGA Tour and their Championship Series a year later.