Newsletter

Keith Pelley’s scathing reply to the ultimatum issued by the LIV dissidents

Only a few hours after the ultimatum issued by 14 players from the LIV Golf Invitational Series threatening legal action against the DP World Tour, its boss, the Canadian Keith Pelley responded to them with a meaningful press release.

Excluded from Genesis Scottish Openone of five Rolex Series on the calendar of DP World Tour this season and co-sanctioned with the PGA Tourand with an endowment of 8 million dollars, 14 players present on the LIV Golf Invitational Series gave 24 hours to the authorities of the European Tour (ultimatum expiring this Friday before 5:00 p.m.) to reconsider their decision (accompanied by a fine of 100,000 Pounds Sterling), under penalty of legal proceedings.

A “threat” in the form of a letter which was not to the taste of the boss of the DP World Tour, the Canadian Keith Pelley. The latter, through a long official press release, took stock of the situation. And that has the merit of being clear!

« Before joining LIV Golf, players knew there would be consequences if they chose money over competitionpoints out Pelley. Many of them at the time understood and accepted it. Indeed, as one player named in the letter said in a media interview earlier this year (Lee Westwood ?) “if they ban me, they ban me!” » It is therefore not credible that some are now surprised at the measures we have taken. »

‘Dissident’ reportedly signed to start Irish Open this week

In this letter, the players thus affirm that they care deeply about the DP World Tour. An opinion that apparently does not share Keith Pelley. ” A particular player named in the note (Ian Poulter ?) has only played six Rolex Series events in the past five years. Another, only four. I wish many of them had been as eager to play on our Tour as they seem to be now, based on the fact that they have either resigned from their PGA Tour membership or, if still a member, have been suspended indefinitely. »

In the same press release, Keith Pelley reveals that a player, present this week in Oregon for the second stage of the LIV Golf Invitational Series, had signed a commitment to play theIrish Open au Mount Juliet Estate (June 30-July 3).

« With this player currently in action at Pumpkin Ridge (Graeme McDowell ?), you can imagine the allegation in the letter that we are wrong is hard to accept. »

Justified penalties

Another point that does not pass for the Canadian is the allusion made by the “dissidents” to the allegiance that the DP World Tour would have granted to the PGA Tour, the powerful American circuit. Before it was shaken by the multiple departures of many headliners like Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau or Patrick Reed.

« According to them, we would have become the second knife of the PGA Tours’insurge Keith Pelley. Nothing could be further from the truth. We held a players meeting in Ireland on Tuesday where we detailed all the many benefits of our extended relationship with the PGA Tour. (…) The DP World Tour is a dynamic, independent, global tour growing and securing prize funds over the next five years. We have fantastic tournaments throughout the year, including a host of wonderful National Opens, all played in front of huge crowds, epitomized perfectly by this week’s Horizon Irish Open. »

This press release ends with the possible legal action brought by these same dissident players. There, again Keith Pelley warns: “ I will simply remind you that our membership rules, which have been in force for over 30 years and have been accepted by all players, are there to protect all of our members, and we will use them to take all necessary measures. to protect their interests. The penalties for members who knowingly violate our rules in play at the Centurion Club (June 9-11) without release are proportionate, fair, and, I believe, considered necessary by the majority of our members. »

Photo : Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Trending