Players who sign up to LIV Golf next season “will not be allowed to be members” of the DP World Tour in 2027, according to Laura Scott of BBC.com. The tour said that “players must ‘make a choice’ regarding where they play.” Scott writes it is a “significantly tougher stance than in recent seasons,” as “only players who are members of the DP World Tour can play for Europe in the Ryder Cup.” In previous years, “conditional releases were struck with some top players” — including Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton — enabling them to play on both the DP World Tour and LIV. However, players will now be “asked to disclose which tours they intend to play on for next year, and their answer will be taken into account when deciding on their membership.” While the DP World Tour agreed to grant conditional releases with nine players this past season, it is “understood the change for 2027 is predominantly down to LIV offering players equity” and a feeling that would be “incompatible with the European tour being a members organisation.” Scott writes it also “comes at a time when the DP World Tour’s strategic alliance with the PGA Tour is being negotiated,” so the move “likely reflects a desire to put itself in the best position possible in those discussions” (BBC.com, 10/12). In London, James Corrigan notes the move “will surely make joining LIV 2.0 less attractive.” This is a “significant setback to LIV” as it tries to “persuade enough players to sign on for 2027” (London TELEGRAPH, 10/12).

MORE TO COME? GOLF’s Berhow, Zak & Melton wrote Rahm’s departure from LIV Golf 2.0 is “kind of like a Jenga piece — pulling his block alone doesn’t bring down the whole tower, but pull a few more blocks and things can come crashing down in a hurry.” Zak wrote losing Rahm is “absolutely massive, even if it was expected.” LIV “can survive in an extremely trimmed-down derivative form, which it has planned to do for the last few months,” but “it all feels a bit rudderless.” Melton added there is “no chance” LIV can “survive in terms of being a major player” in the global golf landscape. Without the names LIV is “losing, the tour is no different than the Sunshine Tour or Challenge Tour.” Berhow wrote it “would be a terrible look to bring back Rahm immediately” to the PGA Tour “with only a few slaps on the wrist.” Zak added PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp “shouldn’t make any exemption for anyone,” as there is “a clear pathway through the DP World Tour.” Melton: “There should be no special treatment for those who passed up their opportunity to come back in the past. The Tour has proven it can survive without them — and will continue to” (GOLF, 10/11).

IS THE DOOR STILL OPEN? BLOOMBERG NEWS’ Adam Minter wrote the PGA Tour’s one-time return window is closed with no plans to reopen it, but that is “a mistake, especially if Rahm wants to return.” With LIV no longer a serious threat, keeping Rahm off the PGA Tour “would only weaken it.” LIV’s 2022 debut “exploited the weaknesses” in the PGA Tour’s model, and the tour “was forced to compete.” Purses grew, more money flowed to the biggest stars and players received equity in the PGA Tour’s commercial arm. Nonetheless, the tour “wasn’t exactly grateful for the lesson, and the bitterness ran thick.” Minter wrote it would “be unfair if defectors could simply resume after filling their pockets with LIV’s once-abundant cash.” But there is “a difference between being fair and being punitive, especially when punishment weakens the Tour itself.” Minter noted Rahm is “unlikely to be the Tour’s last test.” Other players could soon be available too, including Bryson DeChambeau (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 10/10).