LIV raises DP World Tour concerns in court as October decision looms

LIV Golf has accused the DP World Tour of disrupting its efforts to reorganise, bringing a dispute over player eligibility into its bankruptcy proceedings. BBC Sport reported that LIV's lawyer raised the concerns at a hearing on Wednesday, October 14, after the European tour said golfers competing on LIV next season would not be granted membership.

Rob Fitzgerald, representing LIV for law firm Gibson Dunn, argued that the timing of the policy could affect negotiations with players and the wider restructuring. He also raised concerns about competition between tours. Judge Michael B. Kaplan, overseeing the case in New Jersey Bankruptcy Court, expressed concern about comments he had read. The BBC report did not describe a ruling against the DP World Tour.

The European tour declined to respond to Fitzgerald's remarks. Its chief executive, Guy Kinnings, had told BBC Sport on Monday that players would have to choose between the circuits. That position follows previous arrangements under which some leading golfers, including Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, received conditional releases allowing them to participate on both tours.

Fitzgerald identified two requirements for a revived LIV competition: completing structural work connected to investment from BC Partners and securing enough players by October 25 to operate a viable league. He told the court that a decision on continuing or winding down was expected by the end of the month. If the reorganisation proceeds, payments to venues, suppliers and other parties would then be needed to prepare events.

According to the BBC, LIV sought Chapter 11 protection in September after Saudi Arabia withdrew its funding. The organisation hopes to finish restructuring in early 2027, but players are not obliged to remain. At Wednesday's hearing, 19 player contracts were rejected, including those of Bryson DeChambeau and Dustin Johnson. Their consideration had been postponed while the players sought clarity about discussing their futures with other parties.

Rory McIlroy defended the DP World Tour's ability to revise its regulations, saying it had accommodated golfers seeking to leave LIV and was entitled to protect its business. The competing positions leave LIV's proposed relaunch unresolved: its lawyer's timetable depends on both the investment arrangements and sufficient player commitments, rather than a confirmed return to competition.