The Sports Resolutions Arbitration and Media Center in London was the venue for the much anticipated hearing to determine whether former European Tour players who jumped to LIV for huge sums of guaranteed money will be allowed to play on what has been rebranded as the DP World Tour.
The independent three person panel will deliberate the highly contentious matter over the next five days behind locked doors.
There are 13 names listed as the appellants for the hearing, McDowell, Harding, Poulter (above), Westwood, Kaymer, Horsfield, Bland, Norris, Canter, Ormsby, Otaegui, Wiesberger and Reed.
It all revolves around DP World Tour rules and their ability to enforce them on their players who compete in conflicting events on the new upstart LIV series financed by the Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.
Well known stalwarts of the European Tour like Ian Poulter who played in an LIV event last June were suspended for three tournaments and fined. Poulter, Otaegui and Harding won a court issued stay and were therefore allowed to play in the Genesis Scottish Open and every other DP World Tour he chooses since.
It is reported the panel will issue their decision ""several weeks after the hearing" and it's likely that appeals will follow from which ever side "loses"
The PGA Tour went a step further and banned their players from regularly scheduled tournaments as soon as they played in that LIV event last June. (Dustin Johnson, Bryson de Chambeau etal)
Currently LIV and the PGA Tour are embroiled in a case of their own in a US District Court which has bogged down with the PGA Tour basically citing the LIV Tour side for withholding requested evidence, in some cases providing no evidence at all.
On Sunday both sides issued a request for extension on dates set to get underway in January 2023 because they are not receiving evidence they need. The LIV series is accused of choosing to use a series of appeals to eventually drag issues out over several years rather than deal with them as planned.
Critics say the 225,000,000 LIV series is a way for Saudi Arabia to repair the image of their brutal human rights record.
The players led by Greg Norman a long time advocate, have insisted they are private contractors who can therefore play wherever they choose.
The issues of rights and greed and honour caused world wide condemnation in 2022.
Bryan Angus
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