DP World Tour: 14 LIV Golfers Participate in Alfred Dunhill Links Championship
10/01/2024 by Golf Post Editors
The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship 2024 surprises with 14 LIV golfers participating – why are they allowed to compete on the DP World Tour?
LIV golfers Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton (Photo: Getty)
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The 2024 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, one of the most prestigious tournaments on the DP World Tour, is drawing significant attention this year due to the participation of 14 golfers from the Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf League. This raises the question: Why are so many LIV golfers allowed to compete in an event of the DP World Tour, especially since many of them are not members of the tour?
Tradition and prestige of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship
The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is the only tournament held annually at the famous Old Course in St. Andrews, as well as at Carnoustie and Kingsbarns. This unique event attracts the best golfers in the world, including Ryder Cup stars like Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm. Despite the rivalry between the DP World Tour and the LIV Golf League, fueled by Saudi Arabia’s financial involvement in golf, several LIV players have found a way to participate in this tournament.
Invitations and Special Provisions on the DP World Tour
A key factor allowing many LIV golfers to compete in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is the invitations extended by the tournament committee. The organizers, particularly South African billionaire Johann Rupert, who has been organizing the event for a long time, view this as a way to unite the best golfers worldwide. Rupert has repeatedly emphasized that the future of golf lies in the collaboration of different tours, as demonstrated by the invitation of LIV players.
One example is US American Brooks Koepka, who says the Old Course is one of his favorite places in the world and was invited despite being part of the LIV Golf League. Other players such as Louis Oosthuizen, Talor Gooch and Branden Grace also received invitations from the committee. Other LIV players, however, such as Patrick Reed, have received their starting places through good placings in other tournaments.
Exceptions through appeals
Some LIV golfers who are still active members of the DP World Tour can only take part due to ongoing appeal procedures. Players such as Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton have appealed DP World Tour sanctions imposed on them after competing in LIV events. While these appeals have not yet been finalized, the players will be allowed to continue competing in DP World Tour events while the proceedings are ongoing.
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