The DP World Tour announced Saturday morning that it will allow eight of its members to participate in conflicting LIV Golf events in 2026 after reaching a compromise.
Former world number one and 2023 Masters champion Jon Rahm was not among the eight granted release.
Rahm’s Teammate Tyrell Hatton, Adrian Meronk, Tom McKibbin, Laurie Canter, David Puig, Thomas Detry, Victor Perez and Elvis Smylie were among those that agreed to a conditional release that allows them to remain members of the DP World Tour, while competing on LIV.
Conditions of the release include paying outstanding fines, pending Tour appeal withdrawals and increased participation in Tour events.
“The conditions these members have accepted will provide additional value to the DP World Tour and benefit to the entire membership,” the Tour said in a statement Saturday. “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 DP World Tour began fining members for participating in overlapping events in 2022. In 2023, it won an arbitration case that allowed it to enforce the penalties.
Rahm has publicly stated that he will not pay accumulated fines, and has appealed the sanctions. This multi-year timeline currently leaves his 2027 Ryder Cup eligibility in jeopardy.
“The releases apply for the 2026 season only and they are not precedent-setting,” the Tour said. “Requests for releases will continue to be considered on their individual merits in accordance with the Regulations that all members agree to abide by.”
–Field Level Media
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