4 JULY, 2022 - SHANK MEDIA, BY MATT HOOPER: THE SAGA THAT IS LIV GOLF V THE ESTABLISHMENT TOOK YET ANOTHER REMARKABLE TWIST TONIGHT AS Ian Poulter, JUSTIN HARDING AND ADRIAN OTAEGUI WON THEIR LEGAL CHALLENGE AGAINST THE DP WORLD TOUR TO PLAY IN THIS WEEK'S GENESIS SCOTTISH OPEN.
HHJ Sycamore, AN INDEPENDENT UK BODY, HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE TRIO SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO PLAY, DESPITE THE DP WORLD TOUR SUSPENDING THEM FOR PLAYING IN THE LIV GOLF INVITATIONAL SERIES.
16 DP WORLD TOUR MEMBERS SIGNED A LETTER TO THE DP WORLD TOUR LAST WEEK REGARDING THIS, AND THEY HAVE KEPT TO THEIR WORD, AND PROCEEDED WITH A CHALLENGE, WHICH HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
THE DP WORLD TOUR ISSUED THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT ON MONDAY EVENING:
Following a hearing before HHJ Sycamore CBE, appointed by Sport Resolutions (UK), suspensions imposed on Ian Poulter, Adrian Otaegui and Justin Harding have been temporarily stayed, pending determination of their substantive appeals by an Appeal Panel in due course.
Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the DP World Tour, said: “Out of respect for JP and Noreen McManus, their wonderful Pro-Am and the outstanding fundraising they undertake on behalf of charities in the west of Ireland, I will not be giving a detailed response on this matter right now.
“I will simply say we are disappointed by the outcome of today’s hearing, but will abide by the decision. It is important to remember, however, this is only a stay of the sanctions imposed, pending the hearing of the players’ appeal as to whether those sanctions were appropriate.
“The make-up of the field for the Genesis Scottish Open will be advised in due course, but based on this decision the field size will increase beyond 156.
“We will make further comment on this in due course, but not during our time at Adare Manor.”
Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the DP World Tour, said: “Out of respect for JP and Noreen McManus, their wonderful Pro-Am and the outstanding fundraising they undertake on behalf of charities in the west of Ireland, I will not be giving a detailed response on this matter right now.
“I will simply say we are disappointed by the outcome of today’s hearing, but will abide by the decision. It is important to remember, however, this is only a stay of the sanctions imposed, pending the hearing of the players’ appeal as to whether those sanctions were appropriate.
“The make-up of the field for the Genesis Scottish Open will be advised in due course, but based on this decision the field size will increase beyond 156.
“We will make further comment on this in due course, but not during our time at Adare Manor.”
SO THE FIELD WILL BE EXPANDED TO 159 PLAYERS FOR THE GENESIS SCOTTISH OPEN. WHAT IS YET TO BE DETERMINED IS THE CUT MARK AND WHETHER THEIR PARTICIPATION, WHICH WILL SURELY ANGER SEVERAL DP WORLD TOUR AND PGA TOUR MEMBERS PLAYING IN THE CO-SANCTIONED EVENTS, WILL IMPACT UPON THE NUMBERS MAKING IT TO THE WEEKEND AND EARNING OWGR POINTS, FEDEX CUP POINTS AND MONEY. THIS IS POTENTIALLY A CRIPPLING BLOW TO THE PGA TOUR AND DP WORLD TOUR STRATEGIC ALLIANCE. IF IT IS DETERMINED THAT THEY CANNOT SUSPEND OR BAN THEIR MEMBERS FROM PLAYING ON THE LIV GOLF INVITATIONAL SERIES, THEN IT IS VERY POSSIBLE MORE PLAYERS WILL JOIN GREG NORMAN'S REVOLUTION. IT IS SURELY NOW TIME FOR THE LEADERS OF THE TOURS TO REACH OUT TO LIV GOLF AND DISCUSS THE FUTURE. IF THEY DON'T THEN THE PGA TOUR AND DP WORLD TOUR COULD FACE A VERY UNCERTAIN AND PRECARIOUS FUTURE.
POULTER, WHO WAS IN CONTENTION TO WIN THE GENESIS SCOTTISH OPEN IN 2020, OTAGEUI AND HARDING ARE LIKELY TO FACE ANIMOSITY FROM SOME MEMBERS OF THE PGA TOUR AND DP WORLD TOUR WHEN THEY ARRIVE AT RENAISSANCE CLUB LATER THIS WEEK.
POULTER IS ALSO SAID TO BE CHALLENGING ANY FUTURE RYDER CUP BAN IN THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE MANNER.
THE ACRIMONIOUS GOINGS ON ARE VERY SIMILAR TO THE FALLOUT FROM THE LAUNCH OF World Series CRICKET IN THE 1970'S AND SUPER LEAGUE IN AUSTRALIAN RUGBY LEAGUE IN THE 1990'S. WHICH, JUDGING FROM HISTORY, IS WHY I BELIEVE THIS IS A MOMENT WHICH WILL OFFER PELLEY AND MONAHAN FOOD FOR THOUGHT, IF THEY CARRY ON DOWN THIS PATH OF TAKING THE MORAL HIGH GROUND AND HANDING OUT FINES AND SUSPENSIONS, THEY WILL LOSE IN THE END. NEGOTIATION IS REQUIRED, AND THE SOONER THE BETTER.
WE ARE IN FOR ANOTHER INTERESTING WEEK IN THE WORLD OF GOLF.
