The DP World Tour is in talks with LIV Golf players over a deal that will see some notable names leave the league.

Several LIV Golf players are in advanced talks over an exit plan from the bankrupt league with a deal which guarantees them playing opportunities on the DP World Tour, TG understands.

Agents have been exploring potential pathways out of LIV on behalf of players ever since it emerged that the Saudi Public Investment Fund would be withdrawing its multi-billion dollar backing of the league in April. And bosses at Wentworth are now in negotiations with a significant number of players planning to use the DP World Tour as a landing ground next season.

LIV has been granted a 12-day extension to convince players to stay for a proposed relaunch, after BC Partners Credit conditionally agreed to invest a total of $300million into the post-Saudi project.

League sources remain confident they can secure a “critical mass” of players to sign up before the new October 25 deadline, but David Puig’s move to follow Jon Rahm out of the exit door this week has intensified fears of an exodus.

TG has learned from sources close to the situation that contracts are being discussed which will open up playing opportunities on the DP World Tour for various LIV players ahead of the 2027 season, on the condition that they reject the new terms proposed for LIV 2.0.

Current members with exemptions can apply to renew their memberships as usual, but these deals are being laid out for those essentially in limbo without membership on the DP World Tour, or indeed an easy road back to the traditional environs.

LIV players without any status are being offered a specific number of tournament invites – which for some could run into double figures based on their value and the amount of space available into events – as they attempt to carve out a schedule for 2027. Though it’s understood that these invites would not immediately permit players into the Rolex Series, the five marquee events on the DP World Tour calendar.

A DP World Tour spokesperson told TG: “Given the high volume of inbound interest and enquiries we have received in recent weeks, we are exploring the terms on which we are willing to accommodate players provided they are free from third party contractual restrictions and are willing to abide by our membership regulations. Our Tournament Committee has approved the process we intend to follow and we expect further enquiries in the days ahead.”

Back in February, eight LIV players with DP World Tour memberships signed conditional releases which enabled them to play on the league without incurring fines and bans, provided they play in an additional number of events.

But Wentworth HQ are set to resume their hardline stance and start sanctioning members again next season if they choose to stick with LIV and break conflicting events rules. That will make it challenging for prospective players to complete a schedule outside the 10 events planned for LIV 2.0.

These new agreements, however, are strictly contingent on players exiting their LIV contracts. The circuit has a limited capacity of tournament invites to dish out for non-members who they believe can benefit the tour.

One of the notable names who could surely profit from this new arrangement is Joaquin Niemann.

Niemann lost his status last year after failing to play the minimum number of events and is one of the players who would otherwise need to enter DP World Tour Q School. But Niemann is LIV’s most prolific winner and a bona fide star with wins across the PGA and DP World tours.

Before winning the Chilean Open last week, Niemann talked up the prospect of returning to the PGA Tour, but also acknowledged that is unlikely to happen anytime soon.

Brian Rolapp, the PGA Tour executive, has repeatedly said that the Returning Members Program, which facilitated Brooks Koepka’s return from LIV in January, will not be re-opened.

Rahm and others, therefore, will need to serve a one-year suspension before being eligible for the US circuit in August 2027.

The DP World Tour, however, is now poised to capitalise on a huge flurry of interest. The expectation among those with knowledge of the fast-moving situation is that many players – some of whom have hardly appeared on the circuit – will reach an agreement with the tour and finalise their LIV exits.