Four of the most famous players on the DP World Tour have resigned from their membership.
Sergio Garcia (left), Ian Poulter (right), Richard Bland (left) and Lee Westwood (right) have all resigned from the DP World Tour after being sanctioned by the Tour for violating its Conflicting Tournament Regulation last June.
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Four players, including Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood, were sanctioned today for serious violations of the Tour’s Conflicting Tournament Regulation that occurred last June. They will no longer be able to participate in any official DPWT activities.
The DPWT issued fines and sanctions to all four players for their move to LIV Golf. They also banned them from playing in the Scottish Open 2022.
These four were among a number of people who challenged the punishments. The initial judgement was in their favor, allowing them to participate at some of Europe’s most prestigious events, such as the BMW Championship, which is held at Wentworth.
Sports Resolutions, however, finally reached a decision in favor of the ruling tour nine months after it was first announced. The ruling allows for further sanctions to be given to rebel players. This is what led to today’s resignations.
The DP World Tour stated today that this episode was “a result of their own decisions” and that it “has a duty to its membership to enforce the member regulations that each player signed up to.”
The 44th Ryder Cup is just six months away and the confirmed loss by Poulter & Garcia at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club means that the DPWT tournament this week offers a great opportunity for Luke Donald to consider some of the lesser-known names on his list.
Donald was asked by the European team to take over the captaincy after the original choice, Henrik Stenson was stripped for joining LIV early last year. This move also means that the chances of some of Europe’s greatest match-play players leading the European side in a future Ryder Cup are likely to disappear.
The full statement was released on Wednesday afternoon.
The DP World Tour has confirmed that it has received the resignations of Sergio Garcia and Ian Poulter as well as Richard Bland, Lee Westwood, who were sanctioned last June for serious violations of the Tour’s Conflicting Tournament Regulation.
The DP World Tour wishes to thank Sergio, Ian, and Lee for their significant contribution to Europe’s Ryder Cup success over the years.
The sanctions they were imposed, as well as their resignations, were the result of their own decisions.
We have maintained this throughout the year that the Tour is responsible to all of its members to enforce the rules and regulations signed by each player. These regulations were put in place to protect all DP World Tour players’ collective interests.
The independent committee appointed by Sport Resolutions acknowledged this. They determined that our Conflicting Tournament Regulation, and its application under the circumstances, did not exceed what was necessary and appropriate for the Tour to continue operating as a professional tour. We have a legitimized interest in protecting our membership’s rights by enforcing the regulation.
On Thursday, a further update will be given on the other sanctioned member.
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