Eyes on Scottish Open as DP World Tour weighs up LIV Golf response

The latest move in golf’s epic power struggle is likely to see those rebels who have committed to the LIV Series prevented from playing in the Scottish Open. Although still to be completely finalised, the sanction is among those expected to be revealed by the DP World, formerly European, Tour in the coming days.

The Scottish Open, worth $8m (£6.5m) in prize money, ordinarily forms a key part of Open buildup for scores of players and is a marquee event on the DP World Tour. Entries close on Thursday.

No sooner were shots hit at Hemel Hempstead’s Centurion Club on 9 June as the Saudi Arabian-backed LIV staged its first $25m event, than the PGA Tour’s commissioner, Jay Monahan, announced immediate and indefinite bans for those participating. Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson are included in that group. Bryson DeChambeau will be hit with a similar penalty when he appears in LIV’s next tournament, which starts on 30 June in Portland, Oregon.

The DP World Tour has yet to lay out its position, with the organisation keen to stress there are differences between their circumstances and those of the PGA Tour. One is the responsibility it has to DP World as the principal sponsor. The DP World Tour also has an element of Ryder Cup governance via the European team which does not apply to the PGA Tour. It remains feasible that the biennial event could bear the brunt of punishments for DP World Tour players who have defected to LIV. These all remain under deep discussion.

The Scottish Open, which takes place at North Berwick’s Renaissance Club from 7 July, has been a source of widespread intrigue within golf circles given it has co-sanction status with the PGA Tour. Participants can earn ranking points on both the DP World Tour’s Race