‘We are delighted’: DP World Tour chief applauds victory over 12 LIV Golf rebels

The DP World Tour has won its legal battle against 12 LIV players who committed “serious breaches” of the Tour’s code of behaviour by playing in LIV Golf events without permission.

A three-strong arbitration panel heard five days of arguments from lawyers for a group of LIV players and those representing the DP World Tour in February in an attempt to clarify the playing status of the former on the latter.

The case arose when players requested “conflicting event” releases in order to play the inaugural LIV Golf event outside London last June. Those requests were denied but the players competed at Centurion Club regardless and were fined £100,000 and banned from the 2022 Scottish Open.

Initially Ian Poulter, Adrián Otaegui and Justin Harding appealed against the decision and the punishments were stayed, pending a substantive appeal, allowing the players to compete in DP World Tour events throughout, with Otaegui winning the Andalucia Masters in October.

The number of appellants then grew to 16, but Sergio García, Charl Schwartzel, Branden Grace and Otaegui withdrew from the case, which was heard behind closed doors by Sports Resolutions UK.

Announcing its decision on Thursday, the panel concluded that the players had committed “serious breaches of the Code of Behaviour of the DPWT Regulations” by playing in LIV’s London and Portland events, despite their release requests having been refused. Their appeals have been dismissed and the players ordered to pay the £100,000 fines which were imposed within 30 days.

DP World Tour chief executive Keith Pelley said: “We welcome today’s decision by Sport Resolutions which upholds our regulations and our ability to administer them.

“We are delighted that the panel recognised we have a