The European Tour had the right to sanction its members who took part in Saudi Arabia’s new LIV Golf Tour without permission, an independent panel ruled on Thursday.
Sports Resolution’s appeal panel has agreed that a number of golfers, including Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood, committed a ‘serious breach’ of the PGA Europe Code of Conduct by playing LIV tournaments last year despite their requests for release had not been granted.
The move allows the European Tour to impose fines of some US$125,000 on golfers who played on the LIV Tour without a release.
This is the first court ruling on the Saudi circuit since it was established last June. It likely means Westwood, Poulter Sergio Garcia and other golfers will give up their PGA Europe cards.
It will also allow European golf to clearly decide what are the eligibility rules for the Ryder Cup against the United States, which will be played in Rome in September.
Source : Lhebdo Journal
