DP World Tour bans LIV Golf players from next season's 11th league ahead of collapse

DP World Tour bans LIV Golf players from league's 11th season as collapse deepens, and Jon Rahm calls "LIV 2.0" restructuring plan unacceptable

Saudi Arabia ends funding for LIV Golf as future of separatist tour in jeopardy

Greg Palcott defies announcement that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund will stop funding LIV Golf Tour, putting its future in jeopardy. LIV Golf is now looking for new investors as players try to rejoin the PGA Tour.

As LIV Golf's future hangs in the balance amid its bankruptcy, another golf tour looks set to bolster its players.

Since the inception of LIV Golf, those who have joined the former Saudi Arabia sponsored tour are allowed to participate in the DP World Tour - formerly known as the European Tour - under certain conditions.

But now there are no conditions and the DP World Tour has announced that LIV players are no longer welcome.

"Players have a choice. As we've said for years, we have rules and regulations that are in place to protect our tour and our members must abide by all of them. Players who are unwilling to abide by our rules and regulations should not seek to join our tour."

LIV golfers were allowed to play on the DP World Tour as long as they were in good standing and paid penalties for playing in LIV events that conflicted with the DP World Tour calendar - these penalties were paid by the General Investment Fund until 2025.

The PIF halted funding in April to redirect money to domestic projects and manage financial pressures from the regional war with Iran. Following this decision, PIF Governor Yasser Al-Rammian resigned from LIV's board of directors.

LIV filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in New Jersey last month. Between 2021 and 2026, LIV has spent around $5 billion to $8 billion. Bankruptcy filings show the league owes millions of dollars in unpaid compensation to top players including Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson and Cam Smith.

PGA TOUR CEO Brian Rollapp reiterates that he does not consider a returning member program for live golfers.

The future of the league depends on a proposed restructuring plan called "LIV 2.0". It's not off to a hot start, though, as Rahm said the terms of "2.0" are "unacceptable" and he won't be participating. Ram and Tyrell Hutton were perhaps the two biggest names in LIV to play at DP World Tour events.

London-based private equity firm BC Partners, which has financial ties to player agency GSE Worldwide, will finance the 2027 restart, according to the proposal. The plan also gives the players majority ownership of the league.

LIV has laid off most of its operational staff, put event contractors on hold and faces a lawsuit from the Premier Golf League alleging breach of trust and conspiracy.

Brooks Koepka was the first big name to leave LIV Golf, doing so late last year and returning to the PGA Tour. Patrick Reed followed shortly after.

Shortly after PIF withdrew its funding, LIV CEO Scott O'Neill said the LIV calendar would not change, but that did not happen. The league has been scheduled since the beginning, the championship weekend was canceled and had to be held a week earlier.

OutKick's Alejandro Avila contributed to this report.

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