The DP World Tour has threatened Sergio García with “appropriate action” after the Spaniard failed to pay the governing body a £100,000 fine imposed by a sports arbitration panel within the stipulated 30 days.
Sports Resolutions decreed last month that fines and suspensions handed to 17 DP World Tour members who played in LIV Golf’s opening two events last year were justified. The Tour has now confirmed that 16 of the golfers – including Lee Westwood, Patrick Reed, Ian Poulter, Martin Kaymer and Graeme McDowell – have paid the six figures due.
“Sergio García has not paid his £100,000 fine, nor has he given any indication that he intends to,” added the Tour in a statement. “We will therefore take appropriate action if he continues not to respect the Sport Resolutions panel’s decision.” The penalties were originally applied because members played in LIV’s 2022 tournaments either in England or Oregon without being given permission – a release – by the Tour. The Sports Resolutions panel said the golfers in question “committed serious breaches of the code of behaviour” of the DP World Tour.
García had been part of the original appeal over that sanction but, along with three other players, later withdrew his name from the case. The 2017 Masters champion did not appear remotely or in person to give evidence during the week-long hearing in London. Still, the DP World Tour clearly believes the 43-year-old is not exempt from punishment.
García, Poulter and Lee Westwood this week resigned their memberships of the DP World Tour but, intriguingly, no other player also linked to the rebel LIV circuit has yet followed suit. The resignations mean García, Poulter and Westwood cannot appear in the Ryder Cup .
The DP World Tour will next week outline additional penalties to LIV players who “breached the conflicting tournament regulation by playing in subsequent conflicting events without a release.” Umpteen factors will come into play, including the territory of the LIV event in question and whether they clashed with DP World Tour competition. The Tour must also be seen to be fair and proportionate, so as to avoid further legal challenges.
Speaking after an opening round of 68 at the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte, Rory McIlroy said the exit of García, Poulter and Westwood from their home continent’s tour is a “shame.” He added: “But as the DP World Tour said, at the end of the day that was their choice and they knew that these were potentially going to be the consequences of those choices and of those actions and here we are.”
