Another long drawn saga relating to LIV Golf was drawn to a close yesterday with the news that a number of players have given up their membership of the DP World Tour in light of their move to the Saudi-backed venture.
Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia, and Richard Bland have all resigned their membership with immediate effect, making them ineligible to compete in the Ryder Cup later this year.
These players had been receiving fines for playing in LIV without approval from the DP World Tour, something a recent court ruling said would be allowed to continue. As a result, the golfers have now cut ties with their old tour.
Lee Westwood takes parting shot at DP World Tour
Prior to his move to LIV Golf, Lee Westwood had been one of the biggest advocates for the DP World Tour. Despite many top players featuring in minimal events on the circuit once they became established in the PGA Tour, the Englishman continued to make it a priority in his schedule.
He has previously lamented the fact that the PGA Tour was taking the best players away from the then European Tour, something he believed was not right.
When it came to his Ryder Cup chances, he saw no reason why they would be affected by his move to LIV Golf. This is what he had to say soon after joining the new tour.
I mean, why should it be threatened?
I've been playing Ryder Cup golf since 1997, and the criteria has been to be a member of the European Tour. Now, the criteria for being a member of the European Tour is to play four events. Why should they change that now?
I've been a member of the PGA Tour and still played four events on the European Tour, and why would the European Tour change their rules so dramatically because another tour doesn't like it or feels financially threatened? There's just a bit too much protection going on for my liking and not enough transparency.
I think as long as you fulfil the criteria to be a European Tour member, then you should still have the opportunity to try and qualify for the Ryder Cup team.
A lot has changed since then. Westwood has has now officially given up any chances of making or captaining the team by resigning his membership to pursue the financial rewards at LIV Golf.
He has also changed his tune by taking a swipe at the organisation itself.
Speaking to The Telegraph after his exit was confirmed, slamming the DP World Tour for accepting its status as a 'feeder tour' for the American circuit.
I've been a dual member of the European Tour and PGA Tour, but always said I was a European Tour member first and foremost and that I had fears about the US circuit basically being bullies and doing everything it could to secure global dominance.
Check my old quotes, it's all there.
But now, in my opinion, the European Tour has jumped fully in bed with the PGA Tour and even though Keith (Pelley, the chief executive) says he hates to hear it, it is now a feeder tour for the PGA Tour.
The top 10 players on the tour, not already exempt this year, have a pathway to the PGA Tour - that's giving our talent away. That was never the tour's policy before this 'strategic alliance'.
Sorry, I don't want to play under that sort of regime.
I mulled it over and just didn't like the thought of the tour continuously hitting us with more fines and bans that would have been hanging over me.
I've paid my fine out of respect for the arbitration panel and have then taken the decisions out of the tour's hands. I honestly want to move on.
It's safe to say he has burned all bridges with the DP World Tour after those comments.
We can't imagine we will see him involved in the Ryder Cup in any capacity either.
SEE ALSO: Rory McIlroy Hints That LIV Golf Battle Played Part In His Capitulation At The Masters
