Big DP World Tour events still allow LIV Golfers to compete, but how?

A host of LIV Golf players have returned to the DP World Tour on various occasions. Why? Because they can.

Although the DP World Tour earned the right to inflict sanctions on players who’ve moved to the Saudi-backed LIV league by competing in conflicting events without granted releases and defying the tour’s rules, this doesn’t mean they can’t play via other means.

You might be sitting at home wondering why LIV players are playing on the DP World Tour when you turn on the TV this week for the DP World Tour Championship. Well, we want to help you understand why.

Can LIV players play on DP World Tour?

Of course, fines and suspensions can be served. If the players cough up and show patience, they can be part of the fields on the formerly-named European Tour. Patrick Reed is an example of a player who moved to Greg Norman’s breakaway circuit but has been able to play in Europe, having addressed his sanctions.

In some cases, it pays (quite literally) not to be a member. If you are not a member of the DP World Tour and presently play in the LIV League, you aren’t a victim of sanctions. In this case, a tournament invitation or other exemption paths like national spots could be offered.

You can also play in DP World Tour events that don’t conflict with LIV events. In a week where there is no clash between these tours, such as at the 2025 Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship earlier in the season, LIV players that had exemptions to that event could play. Reed and David Puig teed it up there.

And then there are the appeals, a seemingly newborn route for LIV Golfers who cross into the DP World Tour side of the game’s Venn diagram. This first cropped up at the 2024 British Masters where Tyrrell Hatton competed while his sanctions were under an appeal process. Jon Rahm took this route too which made him eligible to compete on the continent.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by National Club Golfer (@nationalclubgolfer)

This appeal process was fundamental for Team Europe’s chances at the 2025 Ryder Cup. While judgment remained to be passed down, Rahm and Hatton had a window to fulfil their four-event quota in the 2024 season to keep their memberships, and you must be a DP World Tour member to play for Europe at the Ryder Cup.

It isn’t clear when this appeal process will end, but it has dragged out until after the Ryder Cup, so that there was no risk of Rahm and Hatton being ineligible to compete for Europe. Again, they provided crucial points as Europe won away from home for the first time since 2012.

The Hero Dubai Desert Classic was the first regular stroke play event of the calendar year of 2025 on the DP World Tour. Six players from the LIV Golf roster entered, including Rahm, Hatton and Polish LIV star Adrian Meronk. Meronk won the first LIV Golf event of the 2025 season in Riyadh.

Hatton, Rahm, Meronk, Reed, Pieters, Sergio Garcia, Dean Burmester, Lucas Herbert and Joaquin Niemann from the LIV Golf League all retained membership for the 2025 DP World Tour season.

So can LIV players play on the DP World Tour? The answer is a resounding ‘yes’ and below are the names of players who are entered into the next DP World Tour event:

ALSO: How far have the LIV golfers fallen in the world rankings?

ALSO: Will Jon Rahm be allowed to play in the Ryder Cup?

Why are LIV players in DP World Tour events? DP World Tour Championship

Tyrrell Hatton

Patrick Reed

Tom McKibbin

NOW READ: Which LIV golfers can play in the majors in 2025?

NOW READ: LIV Golf Q-School is open for entries! But how does it work?

NOW READ: How much has each LIV golfer made compared to their PGA Tour earnings?

NOW READ: Show me the money! How much has each LIV player made since signing up?

Can LIV players play on the DP World Tour? Well, now you know! What do you make of the LIV Golf players-DP World Tour conundrum? Should every golfer be able to play wherever they like? Tell us on X!