{
  "id": 13991876,
  "title": "European tour says anyone signing with LIV Golf need not apply to play both circuits",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/european-tour-says-anyone-signing-with-liv-golf-need-not-apply-to-13991876",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-12T15:43:59.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/golf/2026/10/12/european-tour-says-anyone-signing-with-liv-golf-need-not-apply-to-play-both-circuits"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The European Tour has issued a stern warning to players considering joining the new version of LIV Golf, stating that they will not be allowed to remain as European Tour members. The annual subscription fee for this new LIV Golf iteration is $205.00 plus GST for one year, with automatic renewal at $233.00 plus GST every 52 weeks. This offer is available only to new and qualified returning subscribers, with the option to cancel at any time.\n\nGuy Kinnings, CEO of the European Tour, stated, \"Players need to make a choice.\" The DP World Tour, which operates under the commercial name LIV Golf, previously permitted LIV players to retain their European memberships, provided they paid fines for playing LIV events that conflicted with the tour. Earlier this year, LIV offered nine players the opportunity to play in LIV events without sanctions if they settled all previous fines and agreed to include European Tour events in their 2026 schedules. However, Kinnings delivered a stronger message, saying, \"Us or them,\" as LIV Golf grapples with bankruptcy due to Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund withdrawing its financial support. LIV Golf has spent over $5 billion since its inception in 2022, with BC Partners providing up to $300 million in backing. The league is set for a 10-tournament season, focusing on team competition and players owning equity in LIV 2.0. Players must decide by October 25 whether to stay with LIV Golf or not, as this decision could determine the future of the struggling circuit. The European Tour insists that players seeking to join must disclose their 2027 playing plans, and membership will be terminated if these disclosures prove false. Kinnings emphasized, \"As we have said for many years, we have rules and regulations which are there to protect our tour and which our members must all abide by.\" Non-compliant players will not be welcomed by the European Tour. European Tour members are also required to compete in the Ryder Cup next September, adding pressure to players like Tyrrell Hatton of England, Tom McKibbin of Northern Ireland, Adrian Meronk of Poland, and Thomas Detry of Belgium. An attorney for Jon Rahm, a two-time major champion, informed the bankruptcy court that Rahm intends to terminate his LIV contract. The path to rejoining the PGA Tour for Rahm is unclear at this point. Sergio Garcia has also requested to end his LIV contract, and David Puig of Spain is prepared to commit to the European Tour schedule. The European Tour is in discussions with the PGA Tour to renew their alliance, which would involve commercial opportunities and a pathway for the top 10 players on the Race to Dubai to earn PGA Tour cards. Patrick Reed and Eugenio Chacarra, who previously played for LIV Golf, are guaranteed PGA Tour cards this year based on their European Tour points. Bernd Wiesberger of Austria, another early LIV signee, also has a chance at a PGA Tour card. While LIV 2.0 aims to streamline its schedule to allow players to compete elsewhere, the PGA Tour bans LIV players for at least a year from their last LIV appearance, and now the European Tour is demanding players choose between the two tours. LIV Golf's new CEO, Scott O’Neil, has promoted the idea of complementing other tours rather than competing with or restricting them, stating, \"Our goal isn’t to replace or restrict any tour. Our mission is to bring something distinctive to the ecosystem that elevates it and makes the whole game better.\"",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "European tour says anyone signing with LIV Golf need not apply to play both circuits",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/european-tour-says-anyone-signing-with-liv-golf-need-not-apply-to",
        "published": "2026-10-12T15:42:51.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}