DP World Tour Official Details 'Constant Battle' With LIV Golf

A DP World Tour executive says the circuit spent the last five years fending off LIV Golf's attempts to poach its events, venues and sponsors, pushing back on LIV CEO Scott O'Neil's recent framing that the Saudi-backed league now wants to "complete not compete" with golf's established tours.

What did the DP World Tour official say about LIV Golf?

Ben Cowen, the tour's chief tournament and operations officer, told Golf Digest that the conflict with LIV was direct and sustained. "It was a constant battle for the last five years with them going after events that were on our schedule, going after venues that were on our schedule, going after sponsors that were part of our schedule as well," Cowen said. He added that O'Neil's newer, more conciliatory language has drawn skepticism inside the tour's Wentworth headquarters, insisting LIV remains a competitor whatever its current messaging.

How has the tour responded to LIV's decline?

With LIV's funding from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund reportedly reduced, the DP World Tour has moved to shore up its own schedule. It struck a deal with the Asian Tour that will bring the Hong Kong Open and Singapore Open back to the calendar in 2027. The tour also negotiated the return of LIV defectors including Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton to its events, while Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter have paid outstanding fines tied to their time on the rival league.

The tour's hard line on fines and player deals looks different once its executives describe LIV as an active competitor for their own sponsors and venues.

Cowen said a reported LIV 2.0 format could be scaled back to roughly 10 events with reduced prize money, and with the PGA Tour not offering a formal pathway back for LIV players, he expects some to look to the DP World Tour to fill their schedules, giving fans full seasons from top players for the first time in years.