Due to their exit from the DP World Tour, Ryder Cup players Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood will all be unable to participate in this year’s competition.
The group was fined for violating the circuit’s regulations after joining the breakaway tour LIV Golf, along with Richard Bland. Given the sanctions put in place after they joined the Saudi Arabia-funded tour, the players argued that they have “no choice.” Additionally, Bland has left the European circuit. Now, none of the four can participate in Europe’s game in Rome against the United States.
The resignations were acknowledged by the DP World Tour in a statement, which stated that they had been “sanctioned for major violations of the tour’s inconsistent event regulations.”
Due to their participation in the LIV’s first event at the Centurion Club in Hertfordshire in June, the players were charged £100,000 in fines. They were given until May 3 to settle their fines after losing an appeal handled by the arbitration firm Sport Resolutions.
“In particular Sergio, Ian and Lee for the crucial part they have played in Europe’s success in the Ryder Cup over many years,” the DP World Tour said in a statement thanking the players for their contributions. The DP World Tour statement continued, “The resignations, however, and the punishments imposed against them, are a result of their own choices.”
“The tour has a responsibility to all its members to administer the regulations that each player joins up to, as we have continuously argued over the past year. These rules are in place to safeguard the common interests of all DP World Tour participants.”
The players are as of now not permitted to act as vice-captains or future captains under the terms of the tour. According to the Daily Telegraph, Westwood described it as “a terrible day.” The Englishman joined when he was 19 years old and has been a member for more than 30 years.
With all of the sanctions looming over him, Westwood said that he was unable to see any other options. “I want to move on because I disagree with the approach [chief executive] Keith [Pelley] and his board have chosen.” Westwood, who committed to a multi-million dollar contract with LIV, said his £100,000 punishment had been paid.
