DP World Tour reject Ian Poulter's return as 14 LIV Golf players get set for Dunhill Links

LIV Golf's Ian Poulter has been denied a sponsor's exemption into this week's Dunhill Links Championship by the DP World Tour as a result of unpaid fines. 

Poulter, 48, decided to terminate his long-time membership of the DP World Tour last season in response to the fines and suspensions he was racking up as a result of his ties to the Saudi-bankrolled LIV Golf League. 

It is understood Poulter did not pay off his fines to the DP World Tour, and as a result of terminating his DP World Tour membership he no longer becomes eligible to compete in DP World Tour events or participate in the Ryder Cup as a either a player or future captain. 

A DP World Tour spokesperson informed GolfMagic that tournament invites are given by the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship Committee (overseen by Richemont). 

Poulter was ineligible to play in the 2024 Dunhill Links since he has 'outstanding sanctions' on the DP World Tour. 

These sanctions relate to 'breaches of the conflicting tournament regulation whilst in membership' prior to him deciding to resign his membership in 2023. 

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Poulter was one of a number of LIV Golf players to lose an arbitration hearing against the DP World Tour last season.

The Englishman was one of a number of European Ryder Cup heroes to rip up their DP World Tour card last season as a result. 

Others included Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stenson and Graeme McDowell. 

Westwood and Stenson are co-captains with Poulter on their LIV Golf team, Majesticks GC.

Poulter spoke in the media last month about his desires to still one day captain the European Ryder Cup team.

Rory McIlroy offered his take on the subject.

Ian Poulter rejected sponsor's invite into Dunhill Links by DP World Tour

According to the popular golf social media account @FlushingItGolf, Poulter was requested as a sponsor exemption from Johann Rupert into the 2024 Dunhill Links Championship staged at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns from 3-6 October. 

But the DP World Tour reportedly rejected Poulter's invite into the tournament as a result of him having not paid up his fines, which were understood to be well over £1m. 

A total of 14 LIV Golf players will be competing in the Dunhill Links this week. 

Two of the LIV Golf players will be Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, who have both been let back onto the DP World Tour as a result of them having appealed their fines. 

Rahm and Hatton needed to play in at least four regular season events on the DP World Tour to not only maintain their membership but to also remain eligible to compete in the Ryder Cup next September. 

They will now get to do that, and potentially play in a couple more should they qualify for the DP World Tour Playoffs in November. 

Rahm returned to the DP World Tour last week on home soil at the Open de Espana.

He was unfortunately denied a fourth victory in the event when losing out in a playoff to compatriot Angel Hidalgo, who captured his maiden DP World Tour title in emotional scenes. 

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• 'Let them suffer' DP World Tour pro's message to Rahm and Hatton

In a latest update on the ongoing Rahm, Hatton Ryder Cup saga, The Guardian's Ewen Murray has revealed in an interview with newly-promoted DP World Tour CEO Guy Kinnings that the appeals process could extend beyond the biennial contest at Bethpage Black in New York from 26-28 September 2025. 

It last month came to light that the PGA of America will allow LIV Golf players on Keegan Bradley's US Ryder Cup side. 

Five-time major champion and LIV Golf's record five-time winner Brooks Koepka is also in this week's field at the Dunhill Links, as too former Masters champion Patrick Reed. 

Here's a look at the 14 LIV Golf players that will compete in the Dunhill Links on the DP World Tour

• Jon Rahm
• Tyrrell Hatton
• Brooks Koepka
• Talor Gooch
• Patrick Reed
• Pat Perez
• Hudson Swafford
• David Puig
• Eugenio Chacarra
• Louis Oosthuizen
• Branden Grace
• Dean Burmester
• Peter Uihlein
• Matt Jones

It should be noted Branden Grace got relegated from LIV Golf in Chicago last month.

Grace's only routes back onto LIV Golf will now be via a Promotions event later this season, or via the International Series on the Asian Tour.

GolfMagic is on site at the Dunhill Links this week. 

We have been on the range with a number of stars, including Koepka and last month's BMW PGA winner Billy Horschel.

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