LIV Golf accuses DP World Tour of interfering with restructuring

LIV Golf has accused the DP World Tour of attempting to interfere with its restructuring process after the European circuit announced that it would refuse membership to players competing on the breakaway tour next season.

The allegation was made during a court hearing on Wednesday, where LIV Golf’s attorney, Rob Fitzgerald of Gibson Dunn, said the organisation was concerned about the timing and implications of the DP World Tour’s decision.

“We’re continuing to monitor this situation very closely and we’re quite concerned by it, frankly,” Fitzgerald said.

“The timing in particular strikes us as a clear attempt to interfere with our process with our players and potentially our reorganisation writ large.”

Fitzgerald also raised concerns about what he described as anti-competitive practices, arguing that the move could restrict players’ ability to compete across different tours.

The DP World Tour declined to comment on his remarks. Its chief executive, Guy Kinnings, had earlier told BBC Sport that players needed to make a choice, signalling a tougher approach to golfers seeking to compete on both circuits.

In previous seasons, some leading players, including Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, had secured conditional releases allowing them to participate in events on both tours.

“Player freedom is the reason LIV Golf was created, and it’s the foundation of LIV Golf 2.0, a league built around its players,” Fitzgerald added.

He said the organisation believed leading golfers should have greater flexibility to compete across the sport, describing the DP World Tour’s position as an attempt to pressure players into making what he called a “false choice”.

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Judge Michael B. Kaplan, who is overseeing the proceedings in the New Jersey Bankruptcy Court, said the comments he had read raised concerns.

Fitzgerald told the court that LIV Golf expected to determine by the end of October whether it could proceed with its proposed restructuring under the “LIV 2.0” model or begin winding down its operations.

He identified two key requirements: securing the necessary investment from BC Partners and signing enough players by October 25 to establish a viable league.

“We are working hard around the clock both on the player front and on the structural front,” Fitzgerald said.

He explained that once the organisation had clarity on its future, it would need to begin making payments to host venues, vendors and other parties to prepare for potential LIV 2.0 events.

LIV Golf filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States in September after Saudi Arabia withdrew its multibillion-dollar funding. The organisation hopes to complete its court-supervised restructuring in early 2027.

As part of the process, player contracts have been rejected, leaving golfers free to explore opportunities elsewhere rather than being obligated to remain with LIV Golf.

During Wednesday’s hearing, the court rejected 19 player contracts, including those of Bryson DeChambeau and Dustin Johnson. The decision followed an adjournment the previous week after the players sought clarity on whether the rejection would allow them to discuss their futures with other organisations.

LIV Golf, which launched in 2021 and recruited several high-profile players, owes its participants at least $45 million, according to the report.

Patrick Reed, the current Race to Dubai leader who left LIV Golf in January, said he had been welcomed back by the DP World Tour.

“This year fully playing on this tour only has been something I’ve really enjoyed, and I feel like the guys have enjoyed having me come over and playing,” Reed said.

He acknowledged that some players might have concerns about golfers who returned only for major tournaments, but said his decision to compete across the DP World Tour schedule had helped him settle back into the circuit.

Meanwhile, six-time major winner Rory McIlroy said LIV Golf remained in an uncertain position and argued that the DP World Tour was entitled to protect its business.

“The DP World Tour are well within their rights to change the rules and regulations,” McIlroy said ahead of the DP World India Championship.

“This is a way to protect their business and to make the tour as strong as possible.”

McIlroy had also told Bloomberg that he would vote to allow LIV Golf defectors to return to the PGA Tour, adding that he no longer viewed the breakaway circuit as a threat to traditional tours.

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