Did Europe just deal the ultimate death blow to LIV Golf?

Did Europe just deal the ultimate death blow to LIV Golf? You can be forgiven if you feel like the “death blow” for LIV Golf has happened roughly three dozen times over the last year or so—it’s been a steady trickle of bad news, increasing to an outright torrent at times, and almost all of it has pointed to a league that has a very limited chance of survival.

So if you’re skeptical that any news coming out today is a legitimately big deal, we get it. However, we have to insist: This is legitimately big news.

The DP World Tour, which had previously struck various bargains with LIV players like Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton to let them play in the Ryder Cup and various DPWT events, has announced today that even qualified or partial amnesty is a thing of the past. The era of the hard line has begun: Any European player who continues with LIV 2.0 is banned not only from the Ryder Cup, but also from gaining access to literally any DP World Tour events.

This isn’t exactly a bold move, but it is a telling one. With many of the big names that would benefit the DPWT already gone from LIV—think Jon Rahm, Sergio Garcia, Patrick Reed, even David Puig—they now have the leverage to put forth this kind of ultimatum. However, it’s significant because European players like Hatton and international stars like Cameron Smith and Joaquin Niemann still haven’t made their minds up. This is another checkmark in the “cons” column, and it’s a massive one.

As Joel Beall writes today, with the era of double-dipping over, the absolute final deadline is Nov. 16 for players wishing to join the DPWT for 2027, and CEO Guy Kinnings isn’t mincing words. Check out the story below.

DP World Tour bans LIV Golf players, ending Ryder Cup

The DP World Tour is banning LIV Golf members from competing in its events starting in 2027.

By Joel Beall

What You Need to Know

Christopher Powers

Life looks very good for a top 100 player in the world. Like Michael Kim. We always appreciate the insights Kim shares from life on tour, and his latest info dump showed just how good it is for some of the world's best. The field at this week's Baycurrent Classic in Japan was treated to sushi made by a Michelin-star chef.

Best player dining of the year is very high praise, as these guys are treated like royalty just about everywhere they go. But by the looks of that sushi, I believe him. 

Alex Myers

There's nothing like a little brotherly competition. Nicolai Hojgaard may have missed the cut at the Spanish Open, but by making his first hole-in-one in competition during the second round, he jumped in front of his twin brother Rasmus in that category. And he was happy to let him know about it. With another ace at a pro-am earlier this year, Nicolai holds a 2-up lead on that front, which is both funny that they are taking this brotherly battle so seriously and another reminder that holes-in-one are mostly based on luck if two players of this caliber have made so few. Here's Nicolai talking about his hole-in-one bragging rights—although, to be fair to Rasmus, he still has a 2-up lead in DP World Tour titles.

By Jay Coffin 

Only five events remain this fall on the PGA Tour, which means opportunities are dwindling to make moves in the FedEx Cup Fall standings. Those finishing inside the top 100 will earn exempt status for next year. There was minimal movement following the Baycurrent Classic, but still, it’s significant for those who moved.

Christiaan Bezuidenhout moved from 99 to 95 with a T-17 finish and Lee Hodges moved from 103 to 100 with a T-33 finish, but he bogeyed each of the last two holes. Max Greyserman dropped from 98 to 99 and bogeyed two of the last three holes in Japan and shot 74 in the third round. Billy Horschel entered the week 94th after a T-13 last week in Utah and tied for 21st place at the Baycurrent to jump up to No. 90. Brooks Koepka dropped from 100 to 102, but he’s exempt through 2028 because of his 2023 PGA Championship victory. He played last week at the Dunhill Links in Scotland, and it’s believed that’s his last start of the year.

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