sport news Golf's war of words escalates as DP World Tour chief releases 553-word ... trends now
Chief executive Keith Pelley has hit back at the 16 players who have threatened the DP World Tour with legal action unless their sanctions for competing in the first LIV Golf event are rescinded.
In a strongly-worded, 550-word response to the letter which 'implored' the Tour to reconsider the penalties before 5pm today, Pelley criticises the claim from the players that they 'care deeply' about the Tour, citing how many times they have played in Rolex Series events in recent years.
He also says that one player gave a signed commitment to play in this week's Horizon Irish Open, but is instead contesting the second LIV Golf event in Portland.
Pelley declined to comment in detail on the threat of legal action but said he feels the sanctions handed out are 'proportionate, fair and, I believe, considered necessary by the majority of our members.'
'There has been a leak to the media of a letter we received on behalf of a number of LIV Golf players which contains so many inaccuracies that it cannot remain unchallenged,' Pelley said in a statement.
'Before joining LIV Golf, players knew there would be consequences if they chose money over competition.
'Many of them at the time understood and accepted that. Indeed, as one player named in the letter said in a media interview earlier this year; 'If they ban me, they ban me.' It is not credible that some are now surprised with the actions we have taken.
DP World Tour chief executive Keith Pelley has slammed a letter he received from LIV golfers
LIV rebels including Ian Poulter (right) and Lee Westwood (left) have threatened legal actioned over being banned from the Tour
'The letter claims that these players 'care deeply' for the DP World Tour. An analysis of the past participation statistics on our Tour in recent years of several of the leading players named, suggests otherwise.
'One player in particular named in the note has only played six Rolex Series events in the past five years. Another one, only four.
'I wish many of them had been as keen to play on our Tour then as
