The DP World Tour is set to take a tougher stance on players who commit to LIV Golf’s proposed new era, widely referred to as “LIV 2.0”. After granting special exemptions to several LIV golfers during the 2026 season, tour officials are now signalling that those arrangements are unlikely to continue beyond the end of the year.

The move stems from a long-running dispute over the DP World Tour’s conflicting event regulations. In April 2023, an independent Sport Resolutions panel upheld the tour’s right to fine and suspend members who competed in LIV events without receiving the required releases. The ruling strengthened the tour’s position and confirmed that its sanctions were both reasonable and proportionate.

Earlier this year, a temporary truce was reached. Players including Tyrrell Hatton, Thomas Detry, Laurie Canter, Tom McKibbin, Adrian Meronk, Victor Perez, David Puig and Elvis Smylie agreed to pay outstanding fines, withdraw appeals and increase their participation in DP World Tour events. In return, they were granted conditional releases that allowed them to play LIV events without facing additional punishment during the 2026 season. Jon Rahm later reached a separate agreement with the tour.

However, the DP World Tour made it clear at the time that those deals were only valid for one season and would not set a precedent going forward. Recent reports suggest players have now been informed that fines and tournament suspensions are expected to return from 2027, with releases for LIV events becoming increasingly difficult to obtain.

The tougher stance is being driven in part by uncertainty surrounding LIV Golf’s future structure. Reports indicate that LIV 2.0 could feature a reduced schedule, a new player ownership model and events that may overlap with tournaments overseen by the DP World Tour. Tour officials are understood to have concerns about protecting their schedule and maintaining the integrity of their membership regulations.

The DP World Tour’s position was reinforced by CEO Guy Kinnings, who recently made it clear that players may soon be forced to choose between the two circuits. “Players need to make a choice. We have rules and regulations which are there to protect our tour and which our members must all abide by. Players who are not willing to comply with our rules and regulations should not be seeking to join our tour,” he said.

The developments could have significant consequences for some of Europe’s biggest names. Because DP World Tour membership remains a key requirement for Ryder Cup eligibility, players who opt to remain with LIV 2.0 risk jeopardising their chances of representing Europe in future editions of the event. With figures such as Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton and Tom McKibbin potentially affected, the battle between the established tours and golf’s breakaway circuit appears far from over.