The DP World Tour will not sanction players who choose to compete in the LIV Golf League promotion event in January 2026. The tour’s schedule does not clash with the week of the LIV Golf Promotions event, giving players the freedom to compete without attracting any sanctions.
Players Will Face No Disciplinary Action
The DP World Tour has made it clear that players participating in the LIV Golf Promotions Event, scheduled for January 8–11, 2026, at Black Diamond Ranch in Lecanto, Florida, will not face disciplinary action from the tour. The DP World Tour arranged the schedule so that no event clashes with the promotions week, giving European-based players a clear window to compete.
LIV Golf previously held its Promotions Event in the Middle East but will now host it in the United States. This means that members of the PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour, and Champions Tour will not face any sanctions if they decide to play, thanks to the circuit’s media rights regulations in North America.
The DP World Tour has decided not to follow the much tougher line taken by the PGA Tour, which has warned of sanctions for members participating in LIV events without releases. As a result, DP World Tour players may now enter the LIV promotion event, potentially earn a contract or place, and still remain in good standing with the DP World Tour.
LIV Golf Reaches Resolution With DP World Tour Over Schedule Impasse
This new approach must be understood in the context of how the DP World Tour dealt with LIV-linked participation in previous years. The tour had imposed strict sanctions on players who competed in LIV events without obtaining “tournament release” permission.
The DP World Tour fined players £100,000 and suspended them from upcoming events after they joined the inaugural LIV event without a release in 2022. In May 2023, the tour sanctioned 26 players individually for breaching its “Conflicting Tournament Regulation.” The independent panel ruled that the regulation was “reasonable and proportionate,” and the tour was justified in refusing releases. In addition to fines, some players also faced suspensions and loss of membership, as the tour won a legal battle in April 2023 affirming its right to impose such penalties.
However, LIV Golf met with DP World Tour officials last year to discuss the issues. LIV Golf reportedly also offered a £6 million settlement fee to contribute to purses on the DP World Tour and to ensure that future LIV Golf tournaments would not clash with DP World Tour events. LIV Golf now appears to have kept its word by scheduling the 2026 promotion event so it does not clash with DP World Tour competitions.
The DP World Tour’s stance signals a more cooperative era in professional golf. As both tours find common ground, players could enjoy more freedom to compete globally without fear of sanctions.
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