Padraig Harrington opposed to any major ban on LIV rebels

Padraig Harrington believes most of the players on the established tours regard the penalties imposed on the renegades who defected to the LIV Golf Series as "too light", but the Dubliner is against any future majors ban on those who have joined the Saudi-backed venture.

Sixteen players have threatened the DP World Tour with legal action unless their sanctions for competing in the first LIV Golf event are rescinded.

DP World Tour members, including Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood, were each fined £100,000 and banned from next week's Genesis Scottish Open and two other events co-sanctioned with the PGA Tour after playing at Centurion Club earlier this month, despite being refused permission.

DP World Tour chief executive Keith Pelley responded by deeming the sanctions "proportionate, fair and, I believe, considered necessary by the majority of our members".

Speaking to RTÉ Sport after completing his second round at the Irish Open, Harrington backed up Pelley, and indeed felt that the players could have faced even more punishment.

"Most of the players on this side would think that the sanctions are too light, way too light so the players would be wanting more," he said.

"They're friends, we're all friends. We know each other. You have gone and done your thing, we're going to do our thing. I definitely don’t begrudge anyone who has gone.

"With the commitment that LIV look like they have, they look like they will be here for years to come and players will do very well out of it.

"That’s their tour and this is the DP World Tour, the PGA Tour is over there, there has to be some boundaries."

Harrington said that while he had no issue with players accepting offers from LIV Golf, he did say that they had to expect some response from the