LIV Golf's Tyrrell Hatton returns to DP World Tour at British Masters despite pending appeal

LIV Golf star Tyrrell Hatton is teeing it up in his first DP World Tour event in seven months at this week's British Masters on home turf at The Belfry.

Despite having joined LIV Golf earlier this season, Hatton, 32, is eligible to participate in the Ryder Cup's first qualification event - the British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo - on Thursday 29 August since he has served his outstanding suspensions on the DP World Tour. 

Hatton starts a warm 8/1 favourite ahead of this week's tournament at the famous four-time Ryder Cup venue.

Although it's something of a home game for Hatton this week, the Englishman admits he had never played The Belfry prior to this week. 

"This is actually my first time here playing the golf course," said Hatton. 

"When we walk past the 10th, I have hit that tee shot on my dad's simulator over the years. 

"It's exciting to be here. It's an historic venue in British golf and European golf. So yeah, looking forward to it.

He added: "I think any time you're playing in front of home fans is always going to be a special week and for me personally, I'd love to go out there and play really well. Make loads of birdies and give the crowd something to cheer about as will all the other English guys playing this week."

GolfMagic spoke to a DP World Tour spokesperson this week to clear up Hatton's current status as the Englishman goes in search of a fourth appearance in the European Ryder Cup team in September 2025. 

"Tyrrell has a pending appeal against sanctions imposed on him for breaching the DP World Tour’s Conflicting Tournament Regulation and in accordance with the DP World Tour’s Regulations, he is eligible to participate in the Betfred British Masters," a DP World Tour spokesperson confirmed to GolfMagic on the eve of the British Masters. 

Hatton last participated in a regular DP World Tour event when finishing T31 at the Dubai Desert Classic at the end of January 2024. 

He was then snapped up by his European Ryder Cup teammate Jon Rahm to join him on his Legion XIII team on LIV Golf, and that meant he was ineligible to participate in both DP World Tour and PGA Tour events.

It is believed Hatton signed a deal with the Saudi-bankrolled circuit in the region of $60m, which was reportedly 10 times less than Rahm's five-year deal. 

Related: Jon Rahm responds to shock rumour he is unhappy on LIV Golf and desperate for return back to PGA Tour

Why is Tyrrell Hatton allowed to compete on the DP World Tour?

Hatton's current situation is the same as all other DP World Tour members who appealed against sanctions imposed in previous years as a result of them having competed on LIV Golf. 

As a current member of the DP World Tour, the Englishman is able to continue to play in DP World Tour events pending the outcome of his appeal. 

Hatton has now served his outstanding suspensions on the DP World Tour and is therefore not suspended for the BritIsh Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo. 

The six-time DP World Tour winner has also confirmed he will participate in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns from 3-6 October.

Hatton will very much fancy his chances at the Home of Golf having won won the tournament twice in consecutive seasons in 2016 (his first ever DP World Tour title) and 2017. 

He will unfortunately not be able to compete in the BMW PGA (19-22 September) on home turf at Wentworth, a tournament he won during covid in 2020, as a result of it conflicting against LIV Golf's season-ending Team Championship in Dallas. 

But Hatton plans to be back on the DP World Tour a week later at the Open de Espana from 26-29 September. 

GolfMagic also understands that since Hatton has a pending appeal, payment of his fines is stayed until the outcome of the appeal process, which was the same situation for other members when they appealed.

Hatton is currently ranked 82nd in the Race to Dubai standings heading into this week's British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo. 

He has amassed a total of 388.94 points so far this season as a result of his T31 at the Dubai Desert Classic, along with a respectable T9 at The Masters, T63 at the US PGA and T26 at the US Open.

Hatton missed the cut at The Open, a month after he clinched his first LIV Golf title in Nashville. 

The Englishman is currently third with one event to go in the LIV Golf League individual championship, which is set to be fought out between his Legion XIII captain Rahm and Torque GC captain Joaquin Niemann. 

Hatton will then look to help Legion XII win the Team Championship from 20-22 September at Maridoe Golf Club.

But once the LIV Golf League season is officially wrapped in Dallas, all of his attention will turn to the DP World Tour in November. 

That is providing he can accumulate enough points at both the British Masters, Open de Espana and Alfred Dunhill Links Championship to ensure he cracks the top 70 in the DP World Tour standings.

That will assure his playing privileges in the first event of the DP World Tour's new Playoffs series at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Yas Links from 7-10 November. 

It's another tournament Hatton has enjoyed success in, albeit his victory there in 2021 came at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. 

Should Hatton then play his way into the top 50 in the standings after that event, he will then head into the 60-man season-ending DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai from 14-17 November. 

As for Rahm's current situation on the DP World Tour, GolfMagic understands from the DP World Tour that the former World No.1 has yet to confirm his participation in any upcoming tournaments on the schedule. 

Rahm, like Hatton, has decided to remain a member of the DP World Tour in order to remain a future European Ryder Cup player.

LIV Golf's Adrian Meronk has done the same. 

European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald recently confirmed a new qualification system for the 2025 contest.

The most significant change is that six players will be selected from just one list.

In previous years the team was comprised of players from a European points list and world points list along with wildcards.

Donald will again have six captain's picks. 

Hatton said of the Ryder Cup ahead of the first qualifying event at The Belfry: "(The Ryder Cup is) certainly one of the reasons why I wanted to play this week. 

"The Ryder Cup is really important to me and I'd love to be on that team next year, and this is the perfect week to try and get off to a good start."