Valderrama not included in DP World Tour 2023 schedule as LIV Golf links loom

Valderrama does not appear on the new DP World Tour schedule in 2023 as the club's links with the LIV Golf Tour strengthen.

The DP World Tour, formerly the European Tour, announced that their total prize purse for next year has increased to $144.2 million across 39 events in 26 countries.

Some events such as the Hero Indian Open and a South African event in March haven't had venues confirmed yet, but the Andalucia Masters doesn't appear on the schedule and nor does the famous venue.

In 2012, the event was cancelled due to a lack of funding and it wasn't held again until 2017. The course hosted the Open de Espana in 2016 and also the Ryder Cup in 1997 when Seve Ballesteros led Europe to victory against America.

Adrian Otaegui became the first LIV Golf participant to win on the DP World Tour at the Andalucia Masters on October 16. The acciona Open de Espana is the only event in Spain scheduled for October 2023.

In September, it was first reported that Valderrama was in talks with the LIV Golf Tour. The rebel series want to hold an event in Spain which could land in July ahead of the 151st Open Championship.

LIV Golf boss Greg Norman allegedly saw Sergio Garcia as an important part of the negotiations. The DP World Tour had been confident that nothing would come of discussions, but speculation has grown stronger with the venue's omission from next year's schedule.

Both the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour have lost players to the Saudi-backed series which has caused shockwaves in the sport, but this would be the first time LIV have acquired a significant venue scalp in Europe.

Valderrama is a much-loved course by European players such as Robert MacIntyre. Last month, the Scotsman said it was as close as Europe will get to Augusta National.

A stop in Spain is set to be one of 14 events in LIV Golf's expanded schedule which starts in February. The inaugural season concluded last week at the Team Championship in Miami.