Lee Westwood slams DP World Tour "behaviour" but insists: "I'll not lose sleep!"

Lee Westwood says he won't "lose any sleep" after the European-based DP World Tour were accused of "abandoning history" by not recognising the English former World No.1 as a past winner of the forthcoming Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. 

It was revealed earlier in the week that Westwood and a number of LIV Golf League players had entered the tournament which will be played over 19-22 January at Yas Links. 

One of those players includes Henrik Stenson who is making his first appearance on the circuit since he was relieved of his duties as the European Ryder Cup captain. 

Stenson was stripped of the captaincy last July after he joined the breakaway tour for a reported $40m. 

Related: Nine players who changed their mind about LIV Golf

The Swede later claimed he did not use his position to leverage a better offer, claiming he would happily take a lie detector test. 

However, the fallout for the 2016 Open winner was severe as the Swedish Golf Federation cut their ties with the golfer. 

Stenson won on his LIV debut and then made the claim that he "played like a captain". 

His replacement Luke Donald - also scheduled to compete in Abu Dhabi - has vowed to see the job through. 

Other players scheduled to compete at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship who have joined the breakaway tour include Patrick Reed, Bernd Wiesberger, Adrian Otaegui, Richard Bland, Ian Poulter and Justin Harding. 

Wrote @FlushingIt on Twitter after there was no mention of Westwood:

Westwood responded by saying that he wouldn't lose any sleep, adding that he wondered what major sponsors of the $7.5m Rolex Series event would think. 

The Englishman questioned whether it was in their best interests. 

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The so-called "LIV rebels" have reported that their reception from other players has been mixed. 

Poulter has claimed that nobody has said anything to his face since he joined. 

The aforementioned Donald has suggested that any animosity over LIV Golf will be swept aside at the Ryder Cup. 

LIV players will find out next month whether they can still compete on the DP World Tour. 

Related: Jon Rahm calls for "tough" joint-decision over LIV players' fate

A five-day hearing is scheduled to take place in London to determine whether the European circuit can issue bans and freeze LIV players out of Ryder Cup qualification. 

According to James Corrigan of The Daily Telegraph, Stenson will also play in the Dubai Desert Classic where Rory McIlroy is scheduled to make his first appearance of 2023. 

McIlroy opted not to participate in the PGA Tour's Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii. 

The Northern Irishman has been one of the harshest critics of LIV.

Next page: Reports suggest LIV Golf lose another top executive