LIV Golf rebels set to make DP World Tour return despite £100,000 sanctions

03 October 2023 , 19:32

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Louis Oosthuizen will compete on the DP World Tour (Image: AP)

Four LIV Golf players are set to make a return to the DP World Tour this week, just months after members of the breakaway league were sanctioned by the Wentworth-based circuit for making their Saudi switch.

In April Sports Resolutions confirmed that the DP World Tour were able to fine players £100,000 and issued suspensions for competing in LIV Golf events without 'conflicted events' release. Despite the punishments, four players who compete on the Saudi-backed league will return to the Tour at this week Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

The event will take place across three Scottish courses at Carnoustie, Kingsbarns and St Andrews, with three-time LIV winner Talor Gooch, former Open champion Louis Oosthuizen and Peter Uihlein all competing.

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They will be joined by Laurie Canter, who was able to avoid sanctioning from the Tour earlier this year due to his exemption category. Canter had competed in a number of LIV events in 2023, after filling in for the injured Sam Horsfield as a member of the Majesticks alongside Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson and Lee Westwood.

Per The Scotsman, a DP World Tour spokesperson confirmed that the players in question had received invites from the event sponsor to compete, and served any previous sanctions. It was confirmed that the likes of of Gooch, Oosthuizen and Uihlein were either not previously DP World Tour memberships, or had resigned on the back of their move to the Saudi-backed league.

Talor Gooch has enjoyed plenty of success in 2023 (AP)

The invites were offered by sponsor Johann Rupert. The businessman has a good relationship with fellow South African Oosthuizen, and the pair will play alongside each other in the event's pro-am format. The former Open champion is a regular at the championship, having entered the field 13 times previously.

There will be plenty of eyes on Gooch meanwhile, who has more than made a name for himself on the LIV setup in 2023, winning three times in Singapore, Adelaide and Andalcuia. The American finds himself second in the season-long standings, behind former Open champion Cam Smith.

Gooch returns to the Alfred Dunhill Championship after taking to the field in 2022. He will no doubt be hoping for an improved performance this time around, after missing the cut 12 months ago. Fellow LIV star Uihlein also returns, after finishing in a tie for 10th in 2022.

Joshua Lees