Golf's civil war on brink of court battle with Saudi rebels to challenge Scottish Open ban

Golf’s civil war will finally reach the courts in dramatic fashion on Monday if, as expected, players on the Saudi rebel circuit attempt to secure an injunction to be reinstated in this week’s Scottish Open.

The DP World Tour received a collective letter last week signed by the 16 pros competing in the second LIV Golf Series event, demanding a reprieve for the sanctions imposed for breaking the circuit’s regulations by appearing in the inaugural tournament without permission. 

However, Wentworth HQ has remained resolute, with chief executive Keith Pelley calling the £100,000 fines and exclusion from the $8 million (£6.6 million) field for the Renaissance Club “fair and proportionate” and allowed the Friday deadline set by the “Saudi 16” to pass. 

Sources indicate that some of the mutineers will now go to court in order to try to convince a judge to force the Tour to provide an emergency order to reinsert their names on the start sheet for the Scottish Open, which begins on Thursday and includes 14 of the world’s top 15.

It is understood that roughly half of the LIV players submitted entries to appear in the traditional Open Championship prep event, although it is unclear who is prepared to resort to this unprecedented measure. Both the DP World Tour and LIV declined to comment. 

This is the first jointly-sanctioned event between the PGA Tour and DP World Tour and, after issuing indefinite bans to his members who disobeyed his LIV edict,  the Sawgrass commissioner would obviously not be impressed if any appear in East Lothian. 

Ian Poulter is just one dual member, but although it is believed that the Englishman did enter the Scottish Open it is as yet unknown if he is seeking an injunction.

LIV has vowed to reimburse the