12 January 2024 , 23:02
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European star Matt Fitzpatrick gave a damning assessment of Keith Pelley's time as DP World Tour CEO, who resigned from the role on Wednesday.
After joining the European Tour Group in 2015, Pelley spent eight years in charge of the Wentworth-based circuit before announcing his resignation earlier this week. The Canadian's time in charge has been a turbulent one, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic and emergence of LIV Golf.
Pelley's decision to also strike a 'strategic alliance' with the PGA Tour split opinion, with many since labelling the European circuit a 'feeder tour' to their partners in the United States.
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In 2023, the DP World Tour top-10 players from the season all earned cards on the PGA Tour, and whilst it was an opportunity for those who benefited, the decision to give up Europe's top players was questioned. One man who has raised an eyebrow is former U.S. Open winner, Fitzpatrick.
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Asked what he considered Pelley's legacy to be, the Englishman brutally told Golfweek: "Probably giving away the 10 best players for Europe to the PGA Tour. I would say so, yeah." Fitzpatrick himself has benefited playing across both the DP World and PGA Tour in recent years.
The Ryder Cup star has won nine times on the European circuit, and has two wins to his name Stateside in the 2022 U.S. Open and the RBC Heritage. The Englishman has opted to begin his 2024 season in the U.S. this week, teeing it up at the PGA Tour's first full event of the year at the Sony Open.
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Matt Fitzpatrick is action at the Sony Open this week (Getty Images)He is joined by five of 10 DP World Tour stars who were handed PGA Tour memberships for the season. One is his Ryder Cup teammate Robert MacIntyre, who gave a differing response when quizzed about how he felt Pelley did during his time in charge.
"I got along with him great and will always have his number to pick up the phone," he said Thursday. "He got me to the PGA Tour, didn’t he? I think the way the world of golf is going it’s going to be a world tour. He’s given me a pathway to achieve dreams I’ve always wanted to achieve. Good luck to him."
Pelley will move onto pastures new in April, where he will take on the President and CEO role of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE). Prior to his official exit though, the Canadian still has plenty to do, vowing to complete golf's ongoing framework agreement between the DP World and PGA Tour and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia.
"We hope to come to a conclusion, and moving that forward is something that is going to be my primary focus over the next three months," he said on Friday. I’m definitely staying until April, and I’ve told the PGA Tour and I’ve told representatives from PIF that that is my priority."