Exclusive: European Tour warms members of risks of signing up to Saudi rebel series

The DP World Tour has warned its players that they will be threatening the long-term future of the circuit if they appear in the $225 million Saudi rebel series that starts in London this June.

Keith Pelley, the Tour’s chief executive, made no qualms of spelling out the risks in a confidential email sent to approximately 200 members earlier this week and since seen by Telegraph Sport. Pelley has the power to issue bans but clearly does not want to force the issue and instead, on the Tour’s 50th anniversary, is pleading with the pros to choose history over money.

Dual members of the PGA and European Tours have until Monday to enter their applications for waivers to compete in the opening LIV Golf Series event in St Albans next month and while Pelley explained that he and his “executive team” will “review each request received on a case-by-case basis” he asked the golfers to look at the “wider context”.

For those who do have invites for the LIV tournaments that will mean choosing to play in an event with a $2m purse instead of one with a $25million prize fund - a 1,150 per cent differential. The likes of Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell and Martin Kaymer are thought to be targets, as the Saudis attempt to get their breakaway circuit off the ground after a number of setbacks.

“Conflicting events, regardless of how attractive they might appear to you personally, potentially compromise our efforts in these areas and could significantly hurt your Tour in both the short and long term,” Pelley wrote.

“Please, therefore, continue to bear this bigger picture in mind, particularly considering some of these conflicting events in 2022 are scheduled directly opposite some of our most prestigious ‘heritage events’, including the Horizon Irish Open, the DS Automobiles Italian Open and the Acciona Open de España – three national Opens which combined have more than 300 years of history.”

The Centurion event in seven weeks time - which with its own $25m purse will, at that point in time, set a record as the most lucrative individual tournament ever staged in golf - is up against the $2m Scandinavian Mixed in Sweden.

It will be a surprise if the PGA Tour does not grant releases and if the DP World Tour, in its “strategic alliance” with its American counterparts does not follow suit. The real battle will arise if and when PGA Tour members seek permission to play in the four LIV events staged in the US as the Tour's bye-laws forbids releases in this instance. That is when the lawyers will become involved.

In the meantime, Pelley’s fear is that the quality of that "heritage" trio will be dramatically diluted. The Saudis have been accused of using golf to “sportswash” its reputation in the wider world and it is no surprise to see Pelley piling on the pressure.

The current top players in the game have pledged their loyalty to the status quo and, in certain quarters, there has been ridicule concerning the anticipated strength of the 48-man field, with the world No 1,043 Robert Garrigus named so far as the only PGA Tour member to seek permission.

It is understood that at least six “journeymen” European Tour players have also applied (although they do have until May 10 to submit their forms).

However, Greg Norman, the LIV chief executive, insisted to Telegraph Sport in an interview last week that there will be “marquees names” on show, including a two-time major winner from America, and a well-backed insider backed up this claim yesterday.

“They might not get anyone in the top 20, but I think you’ll get some notables from 25-65 in the world,” they said. “After all, it is a $4m first prize and $120,000 for coming last and plenty of the guys are figuring that this is their job and they are supposed to be independent traders. Some people may be surprised and probably upset when they see the Centurion starting list.”