Former World No.1 sparks mayhem with latest LIV Golf remarks: "They kicked the can down the road"

Former European Ryder Cup star Lee Westwood provoked a mixed reaction after he accused the DP World Tour of manipulating the rules to accommodate fellow LIV Golf recruits Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton. 

Westwood quit his home circuit in 2023 after a panel of former high court judges determined the DP World Tour could fine golfers for competing in events on the breakaway tour.

The Englishman paid off his initial £100,000 fine but he has revealed if he were to re-join the DP World Tour like Sergio Garcia he would need to pay off a further £857,000.

Westwood told The i paper he would still love to be a Ryder Cup captain but is not prepared to pay up. 

And he also accused the DP World Tour of manipulating the rules to accommodate two players who are more than likely to be a key part of Luke Donald's team this September at Bethpage Black. 

Rahm and Hatton both joined LIV for the 2024 season and have not resigned their memberships with the DP World Tour. 

Both have appealed their fines and it is understood their cases won't be heard until after the Ryder Cup. 

Westwood thinks this is convenient. "The tour have not treated everyone the same way," he said. 

"They have not treated Rahm and Hatton the same way they treated me, Poults [Poulter] and Stenson and the like.

"They have manipulated the situation. They haven’t paid their fines either, but their appeal dates have been pushed back until after the Ryder Cup.

"They have basically kicked the can down the road for those players. They keep fining them but they will be eligible for the team."

Westwood's comments have now been widely shared and they have prompted a mixed reaction. 

"He comes across as bitter, jealous and horrible," one wrote on X. Another added: "You proactively chose LIV, deal with it."

A sympathetic golf fan wrote: "I don't care who is responsible but it's a shame this confrontation had to happen."

In response to Westwood's comments, a DP World Tour spokesperson said the circuit had been 'consistent in our administration of our members' regulations'. 

They added: "The fact remains, any player is able to be a member of the DP World Tour provided they comply with the members' regulations each player signs up to. 

"Some players have done that and remained in membership, while others have returned to membership and fulfilled their outstanding sanctions.

"In terms of appeals, our disciplinary process, set out in our members' regulations, gives a member the right to appeal against any sanctions imposed and continue to play while that appeal is pending. 

"Some players have exercised that right recently, the same as a number of players did in 2022/23, including Lee Westwood."

Future Ryder Cup captaincy?

It does seem remote now that he will ever get the chance to lead the blue and gold. 

Justin Rose led Great Britain and Ireland to victory at the Team Cup in January and it is understood he will be Luke Donald's successor.

The matches head to Adare Manor in Ireland in 2027. Hazeltine will host two years later. 

"If I was asked to be captain at Adare Manor, I would jump at the chance," Westwood added.  

"But certain things have to change. Rapprochement is necessary."