An independent, three-member panel is
overseeing the five-day hearing which is being held behind
closed doors and will shape the fields on the European circuit,
which has been rebranded as the DP World Tour, when a decision
is released.
The hearing is focused on DP World Tour rules regarding
conflicting events and its ability to enforce them on members
who compete without permission in the breakaway LIV Golf series
that is bankrolled by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.
DP World Tour members who competed in the inaugural LIV Golf
event last June despite not receiving permission received
three-event suspensions and fines.
Ian Poulter, Adrian Otaegui and Justin Harding challenged their
suspension and won a stay from a British court last July that
allowed them to compete in the Scottish Open.
The 13 players who are named as appellants for the hearing are
Poulter, Otaegui, Harding, Patrick Reed, Lee Westwood, Graeme
McDowell, Martin Kaymer, Sam Horsfield, Richard Bland, Shaun
Norris, Laurie Canter, Wade Ormsby and Bernd Wiesberger.
There were originally 16 golfers who were involved but Sergio
Garcia, Charl Schwartzel and Branden Grace all withdrew their
names from the hearing case.
DP World Tour media officer Scott Crockett, in a briefing with
reporters two weeks ago, said the panel would deliver their
verdict "several weeks" after the hearing has taken place.
"Will we appeal if we lose? Will they appeal if they lose? Will
their players still be able to play on the tour if they are
appealing? Unfortunately, the simple and honest answer to all of
that is we don't know," said Crockett.
The PGA Tour, in a decision released moments after play in the
lucrative breakaway series' inaugural event last June, suspended
members who played the LIV Golf event and said anyone else who
makes the jump will face the same fate.
Critics have said the $255 million LIV series is a vehicle for
Saudi Arabia to try and improve its image in the face of
criticism of its human rights record.
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Ken Ferris)
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