‘Aggressive Play’: DP World Tour’s Former Board Member Continues To Fire Shots at Greg Norman’s LIV Golf

The formation of LIV Golf has not only caused a disturbance in the traditional PGA Tour, but has also resulted in divided opinions around other tours as well. Another major tour body, DP World Tour, has also ended up suffering many repercussions of LIV’s actions and  veteran golfer Paul McGinley, has faced the music for it.

The four times DP World Tour champion, Paul, had to resign from his position as DP World Tour Board Member earlier this year. His action was prompted by the desire to avoid criticism for his involvement in a media role as a Sky Sports analyst, and to be free from the LIV drama. But his trouble did not end there. His involvement on the board level has created a lot of problems that keep on coming back to him.

Paul McGinley expresses disapproval against LIV Golf and compares it to the PGA Tour

McGinley’s presence at the JP McManus Pro-Am last year ended in his releasing some crucial statements related to his European Tour fate in 2023. According to Paul, there is a staggering difference between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. He feels that the PGA Tour never presented any threat to the European Tour. There never has been any previous case of intrusion from the PGA Tour towards the DP World Tour premises, and the 2002 Ryder Cup famer is well aware of it.

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McGinley has reflected on how disrespectful it was of the Saudi-backed tour to hold its first-ever event just in front of the European Tour’s office. “The very first LIV event that was ever played was played thirty miles down the road from European Tour Headquarters at Centurion Club, so tell me that’s not an aggressive play?” 

LIV hosted its first event LIV Golf Invitational London at the Centurion Club near Hemel Hempstead, England in the month of June 2022. “The PGA Tour never came over and played a tournament on European soil, ever.” he clarified. 

DP World Tour seeks legal aid to resolve issues caused by LIV Golf

The matter has become so worse between the tours that the European Tour had to seek legal aid to resolve conflicts. Last June at LIV Golf’s opening tournament, some members of the European World Tour – Ian Poulter, Adrian Otaegui, and Justin Harding, also played in the event and were later seeking exemption. But they ended up being charged with hefty fines, and were also consequently banned from playing at three events. According to the decision the players were accused of breaching the behaviour code.

“People say well the guys played on the PGA Tour so why can’t they play on LIV?’ The PGA Tour never competed in our markets.” The Irish Golfer stated that the European Tour later won the lawsuit. There is indeed bad blood between the two groups who can’t seem to find a middle ground to put aside their differences.

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