"It's really hard” – Players have mixed opinion on the DP World Tour vs LIV Golf arbitration hearing
In golf, the drama never ends. Currently, a hearing is taking place between DP World Tour's legal team and 13 appellants playing in LIV Golf. The panel is set to decide whether fines and suspensions can be imposed for the LIV Golfers after being denied release to play.
The outcome of the five-day hearing will not be known for several weeks. The PGA Tour is involved in a separate anti-trust lawsuit with LIV Golf, with Ryan Fox admitting that the ongoing feuds between the rival organizations continue to cause tension within the professional game.
Fox talked about this on Sky Sports ahead of the Singapore Classic.
"It's really hard to know how it's going to go. Obviously I think it's a very narrow arbitration, in terms of can we enforce our regulations or not?"
He further detailed the difference between the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour, saying that the former's rules are legally stricter. However, he still hoped that the lawsuit would be in favor of the DP World Tour.
"It's very different compared to what the PGA Tour is, as the PGA Tour regulations are quite a bit stronger legally than what ours are. Obviously, I hope the tour has some kind of favourable outcome from it, but we're not going to know that for a while."
Ryan Fox also said that this feud between LIV Golf and the DP World Tour had ended friendships.
"Golf has always been a gentleman's game, while there's been feuds here and there, generally everyone gets along really well. This whole thing has ended friendships, not for me or anything, but it has ended friendships for people."
He also believed that the tension wouldn't be good for anyone in the long term.
"It has created a lot of tension in the game, and while the tension may have been good to start with, I don't think it's good in the long term for anyone."
What implications will the DP World Tour v/s LIV Golf have on the 2023 Ryder Cup?
Several significant players like Sergio Garcia, Martin Kaymer, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, and Graeme McDowell, amongst others, joined LIV Golf last year. These players would have otherwise played in the 2023 Ryder Cup from the European side.
English golfer Justin Rose is back in the groove after winning the recent AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in California. He has bettered his chances of being selected for the European team for the Ryder Cup this year.
He had a balanced opinion on whether LIV Golf players should be allowed on the coveted championship teams.
"It (having LIV golfers in fields) has definitely strengthened European Tour events, if you're looking at it from a field point of view and things like that."
He offered different perspectives on the issue.
"Part of me thinks you've made a decision, you should just get your head down and stick with that. But at the same time, a lot of these guys have given a lot to the European Tour over two decades, so maybe that should count for something too."
At the same time, Justin Rose said he doesn't interfere much in the issue as many of the LIV Golf players are his friends. He doesn't judge their decisions and still wishes them the best.
"Listen, I try to keep my nose out of it because a lot of them are my friends and they remain my friends. I don't judge their decision because everyone has their own parameters for what makes a good decision or not. I still continue to stay in touch with them and wish them the best."
Well, all golf fans and players would have to wait for the hearing to find some closure on the matter.