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Rory McIlroy, Viktor Hovland, and European Ryder Cup team paired together at star-studded BMW PGA Championship

The DP World Tour paired each of the European Ryder Cuppers together as all 12 Euros are playing in this week’s BMW PGA Championship.

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Rory McIlroy, Viktor Hovland, PGA Tour, BMW Championship

Rory McIlroy , Viktor Hovland , and Jon Rahm lead the European Ryder Cup team into England this week as the DP World Tour’s biggest tournament, the BMW PGA Championship, takes center stage at Wentworth Golf Club.

All 12 European Ryder Cuppers are in the field, which Captain Luke Donald emphasized the importance of at last week’s Horizon Irish Open.

“It was something that I certainly wanted,” Donald said on Sept. 6. “I was very adamant that whoever was on that team was going to be there. I didn’t want anyone to skip out on it unless they had specific reasons for that.”

Luke Donald, DP World Tour, Horizon Irish Open

Team Europe touched down in England early Tuesday morning after spending Monday at Marco Simone Golf Club in Rome.

The Europeans spent the day playing a practice round and then enjoyed a meal together while having great fun in the evening. Surely, some strategy was discussed too, as the blue and gold have revenge on their minds after the smacking they received at the 2021 Ryder Cup .

But some planning and experimentation will take place at Wentworth this week too, as the DP World Tour also facilitates the Ryder Cup from a European perspective.

Jon Rahm, Tyrell Hatton, PGA Tour, TOUR Championship

In doing so, the tour brilliantly paired up members of Team Europe together over the first two rounds of the BMW PGA Championship to ensure that bonds are even further established.

And funny enough, Captain Donald is in the field this week, too, as he will be joined by Italian vice captains Francesco and Edoardo Molinari over the first two rounds.

So, if you want to get a preview of the European team, tuning into the BMW PGA Championship would be a wise decision.

Complete coverage times and tee times of the marquee groups are highlighted below:

Television Coverage:

Round 1 - Thursday, Sept. 14: Golf Channel, 7 a.m. ET to 1 p.m. ET

Round 2 - Friday, Sept. 15: Golf Channel, 7 a.m. ET to 1 p.m. ET

Round 3 - Saturday, Sept. 16: Golf Channel, 7 a.m. ET to 1 p.m. ET

Round 4 - Sunday, Sept. 17: Golf Channel, 7 a.m. ET to 12:30 p.m. ET

Marquee Groups Round 1 Tee Times:

3:25 a.m. ET - Padraig Harrington, Victor Perez, Rasmus Højgaard

3:40 a.m. ET - Rory McIlroy, Ludvig Åberg, Viktor Hovland

3:50 a.m. ET - Adam Scott, Tom Kim, Billy Horschel

4:00 a.m. ET - Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry, Sepp Straka

4:10 a.m. ET - Thorbjørn Olesen, Yannik Paul, Joost Luiten

4:20 a.m. ET - Shubhankar Sharma, Matthew Southgate, Matthew Jordan

4:30 a.m. ET - Luke Donald, Edorado Molinari, Francesco Molinari

7:30 a.m. ET - Adrian Meronk, Danny Willett, Alexander Björk

7:40 a.m. ET - Jon Rahm, Nicholai Højgaard, Tyrell Hatton

7:50 a.m. ET - Justin Rose, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Robert MacIntyre

8:00 a.m. ET - Ryan Fox, Min Woo Lee, Pablo Larrazábal

Marquee Groups Round 2 Tee Times:

3:25 a.m. ET - Adrian Meronk, Danny Willett, Alexander Björk

3:40 a.m. ET - Jon Rahm, Nicholai Højgaard, Tyrell Hatton

3:50 a.m. ET - Justin Rose, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Robert MacIntyre

4:00 a.m. ET - Ryan Fox, Min Woo Lee, Pablo Larrazábal

7:30 a.m. ET - Padraig Harrington, Victor Perez, Rasmus Højgaard

7:40 a.m. ET - Rory McIlroy, Ludvig Åberg, Viktor Hovland

7:50 a.m. ET - Adam Scott, Tom Kim, Billy Horschel

8:00 a.m. ET - Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry, Sepp Straka

8:10 a.m. ET - Thorbjørn Olesen, Yannik Paul, Joost Luiten

8:20 a.m. ET - Shubhankar Sharma, Matthew Southgate, Matthew Jordan

8:30 a.m. ET - Luke Donald, Edorado Molinari, Francesco Molinari

Bold signifies Ryder Cup pairing.

Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko for more golf coverage. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough too.

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BMW PGA Championship: Ludvig Åberg opens up two-shot lead after third round at Wentworth

Tommy Fleetwood and Connor Syme head the chasing pack after 54 holes at Wentworth, with Jon Rahm four off the pace heading into Sunday's final round which has been brought forward due to bad weather; watch live on Sky Sports Golf from 10am with Featured Group coverage from 8.30am

Saturday 16 September 2023 22:23, UK

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Ludvig Aberg plays out of a bunker on the 18th during day three of the 2023 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Golf Club in Virginia Water, Surrey. Picture date: Saturday September 16, 2023.

Ludvig Åberg will take a two-shot lead into the final round of the BMW PGA Championship after continuing his sensational form with a six-under 66 in the third round at Wentworth.

The 23-year-old Swede, who is bidding for back-to-back victories after winning the European Masters earlier this month to earn a Ryder Cup call-up, carded an eagle, five birdies and just one bogey to keep the chasing pack at bay as he finished on 16 under.

His nearest pursuers on 14 under are England's Tommy Fleetwood and Connor Syme of Scotland, although there are a number of players still within striking distance and ready to take advantage of any Sunday slip-ups by Åberg.

BMW PGA Championship: R3 leaderboard

-16: Ludvig Åberg (Swe) 66

-14: Tommy Fleetwood (Eng) 67, Connor Syme (Sco) 65

-13: Ryan Fox (Nzl) 66, Aaron Rai (Eng) 67, Callum Shinkwin (Eng) 64

-12: Jon Rahm (Esp) 66

  • BMW PGA Championship: Full leaderboard
  • Round three - as it happened
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Åberg, who only turned professional in June, started the day in a tie for the lead on 10 under with his compatriot Sebastian Soderberg, but took command at the par-five fourth when he made an eagle after knocking his second to around six feet as Soderberg fell out of contention with a triple-bogey.

Machine-like golf from Åberg then earned him birdies at the seventh, eighth and 12th as he opened up a two-shot cushion despite a number of players keeping tabs on him.

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A hook into the trees off the 13th tee then looked like the pressure was starting to tell on Åberg as he took a drop and hacked out before leaving himself with a 36-footer for a bogey which he promptly drained for a massive confidence-booster.

The 15th was a perfectly-played hole which secured him another birdie and he then missed decent chances at the 16th and 17th before making a further gain from a greenside bunker at the 18th.

BMW PGA Championship: Leaderboard

Round 3 - as it happened

Ultimate guide to the 2023 Ryder Cup

Europe's Ryder Cup scouting mission

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"It was a lot of fun," said Åberg. "I felt like I was striking the ball pretty good today even though I had a few left misses with my driver but ended up with some key saves here and there, and then with a few nice shots coming in.

"I think even if I wasn't leading, I'd be looking forward to playing a Sunday round at Wentworth. Such an iconic place and I'm just fortunate to play good golf the last three days and hopefully I'll keep playing.

"I almost got a little bit of a warm-up the first two days playing with Rory (McIlroy), a lot of stuff going on. I felt like I handled it well the last two days and did the same today where I kept my feet where they are and tried to focus on one shot at a time. Hopefully I'll do the same tomorrow and play some good golf."

Fleetwood made an early slip with a bogey at the third but bounced back with an eagle at the fourth followed by a birdie at the fifth.

Further birdies at the 10th, 12th and 17th kept him in touch with Åberg as he signed for a 67 to sit ready to pounce in the final round, for which tee times have been brought forward due to the threat of bad weather with the final group teeing off at 10.30am.

bmw pga european tour

Fleetwood said: "It is so much fun playing in front of a crowd like this, and you're getting rooted for all the way around. I'd love tomorrow to play well down the stretch and give them something to cheer about. It's such a cool atmosphere to play in. I look forward to that and keeping the crowd on myself.

"It's a huge event and something that everybody on The European Tour aims for in their career, and playing tomorrow with a chance and hopefully to be able to do it would really be great. I really look forward to it."

Syme stormed through the field with a run of four birdies and an eagle (at the 12th) in seven holes from the turn, but he was unable to take advantage of the two closing par-fives as back-to-back pars secured him a seven-under 65.

That score was bettered by Callum Shinkwin, who had ended a run of nine successive missed cuts at last week's Irish Open, as he rattled in eight birdies in a flawless 64, while his fellow Englishman Aaron Rai did manage to birdie the 18th for a 67 to join him on 13 under.

bmw pga european tour

Also on 13 under is New Zealander Ryan Fox, whose colourful 66 included eagles at the fourth and 12th, five birdies, a bogey and a double-bogey at the fifth.

Jon Rahm, who has finished second on both his previous appearances at Wentworth, was hot on Åberg's tail when he made five birdies in six holes from the third as he produced a variety of excellent shots.

A further birdie followed at the 11th before a poor second shot at the 12th saw him play some ragged golf for a spell with two bogeys preceding closing birdies at 17 and 18th which earned the Spaniard a 66 and put him firmly back in contention at 12 under.

Jon Rahm of Spain plays his second shot on the 9th hole during Day Three of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth

Rahm's European Ryder Cup team-mates Sepp Straka (69) and Tyrrell Hatton (68) both remain in the running on 11 under, while Viktor Hovland (67) will still hope to strike from 10 under, although defending champion Shane Lowry (67) may just be too far off the pace on nine under.

Belgium's Thomas Detry found himself at the top of the leaderboard alongside Åberg after four birdies in his first eight holes, but a poor back nine, culminating in a double-bogey at the last, saw him finish down on 10 under following a 71.

Friday's delays meant a late two-tee start to the third round with Rory McIlroy, who just made the cut, teeing off at the ninth from where he carded a 67, which featured seven birdies and two bogeys, to move to six under.

McIlroy

Soderberg went on to add another triple-bogey at the 17th in a round of 79 which dropped him back to three under, while Masahiro Kawamura, who was also in the final group tumbled, down to five under following a triple-bogey at the last for a 76.

Sky Sports' live coverage of the BMW PGA Championship continues with the final round on Sunday with Featured Groups from 8.30am ahead of full coverage from the earlier time of 10am on Sky Sports Golf. The first groups are scheduled to start at 8.10am with the final group out at 10.30am.

Live coverage from the opening day of the Ryder Cup begins on Friday September 29 from 6am on Sky Sports Golf, while live programming begins on Monday September 25. Stream the PGA Tour, DP Tour, Ryder Cup and more with NOW .

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2021 BMW PGA Championship TV schedule: How to watch on Golf Channel

bmw pga european tour

The 2021 BMW PGA Championship is the flagship event on the 2021 European Tour schedule, with Wentworth Club in Virginia Water, England, hosting the event.

The BMW PGA Championship field is headed by Matt Fitzpatrick , Tommy Fleetwood and Francesco Molinari, with the world's best players taking on the latest European Tour event. After 36 holes, the field will be reduced to the top 65 and ties heading into the final two rounds.

The BMW PGA Championship TV schedule is packed with hours of coverage, with Golf Channel airing the championship live for four days with golf action from Wentworth Club in England.

Live coverage is streamed on the NBC Sports app.

All of this coverage can be streamed online using the NBC Sports app. However, if you prefer to watch the 2021 BMW PGA Championship on good, ole-fashioned TV, here are the 2021 BMW PGA Championship TV times and schedule.

2021 BMW PGA Championship TV schedule, times, channels

All times are Eastern

  • Thursday, Sept. 9: 7 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Golf Channel
  • Friday, Sept. 10: 7 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Golf Channel
  • Saturday, Sept. 11: 7 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. on Golf Channel
  • Sunday, Sept. 12: 7 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. on Golf Channel

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Primary Landscape BMW PGA Championship Logo - Rolex Series Lockup_Original Image_m72910

19 - 22 Sep 2024

BMW PGA Championship

Wentworth club, virginia water, surrey, england.

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Course Card

DP World Tour Partners

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BMW PGA Championship

09/14 – 09/17/2023

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Show full Leaderboard of the BMW PGA Championship 2023

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Tournament information - BMW PGA Championship 2023 - European Tour

The BMW PGA Championship in the season 2023 is being played in Virginia Water, Surrey, England at the Wentworth Club. The tournament starts at the Thursday, 14th of September and ends at the Sunday, 17th of September 2023.

The BMW PGA Championship is part of the European Tour in the season 2023. In 2023 all players competing for a total prize money of USD 9,000,000.

The course for the tournament at Wentworth Club plays at Par 72.

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BMW PGA Championship Winners and History – European Tour

bmw pga european tour

Founded in 1955, the BMW PGA Championship originally was known as the British PGA Championship. It has since gone through thirteen name changes and sponsors.

NOTE: This entry is for the European Tour event. Click here for the PGA TOUR’s Fedex Cup Playoff event .

Since 1984, the tournament has been played at Wentworth Club in Surrey, England. The European Tour’s headquarter is at Wentworth Club.

The BMW PGA Championship in its various forms long has been regarded as the European’s Tour flagship event. It is designated as the European Tour’s “Premier Event” for World Golf Rankings. Until 2009 and the introduction of the Dubai World Championship it also was the tournament with the European Tour’s highest prize.

Colin Montgomerie, Bernhard Langer, Nick Faldo and Peter Alliss have the most wins, with three each.

And, while Arnold Palmer never won the PGA Championship to complete the Career Grand Slam, he DID win the European PGA Championship in 1975.

The name is somewhat confusing, for there is also a PGA Championship in the United States, and a BMW Championship on the PGA TOUR, which was formerly the Western Open.

A list of past BMW PGA Championship winners follows

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10 Things You Didn't Know About The DP World Tour

Here are 10 things you may not be familiar with about the Europe-based circuit

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The DP World Tour flag

The DP World Tour (formerly the European Tour) is one of the most well-regarded and established circuits in the game, with some of the best-known tournaments around, including the Dubai Desert Classic and its flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship.

While it doesn't boast the same status as the US-based PGA Tour, it still forms an integral part of the game's professional landscape. Here are some facts about the Tour that you may not be familiar with.

1. The roots of the DP World Tour (formerly the European Tour) go back to 1972, when the Professional Golfers' Association, which was established 71 years earlier to serve the interests of golfers in Great Britain and Ireland, created it.

2. It began with 20 tournaments and the season ran from April to October. The action took place in nine countries – Spain, England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Switzerland, West Germany, the Netherlands and Italy.

3. The inaugural European Tour event was the Spanish Open, which was held at Golf Club de Pals in Girona. Fittingly, two Spaniards battled it out for the title in a playoff, with Antonio Garrido emerging the winner over Valentin Barrios. The purse for the tournament was £10,000.

4. Nowadays, DP World Tour events take place around the world, but it was strictly a Europe-only affair for the first decade of its existence. That changed in 1982 with the first tournament to be played outside the continent – the Tunisian Open in Africa. Garrido once again claimed the title after beating compatriot Manuel Calero in a playoff.

5. The DP World Tour’s headquarters are at Wentworth in Surrey, England. From there, the PGA European Tour, to give it its legal title, also runs the European Senior Tour (currently the Legends Tour), the developmental Challenge Tour and G4D Tour. It is also the lead partner in Ryder Cup Europe.

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The clubhouse at Wentworth

The DP World Tour's headquarters are at Wentworth

6. Some of the highest-profile DP World Tour events take place in Asia, but it wasn’t until 1989 that the continent hosted one of its events with the inaugural Dubai Desert Classic (then called the Karl Litten Desert Classic). The tournament was won by Mark James, who beat Peter O’Malley by four shots to claim the $75,000 first prize.

7. In 2015, including Majors and World Golf Championships, more of the DP World Tour’s tournaments were held outside Europe than within it for the first time.

8. In 1998, The Masters, PGA Championship and US Open were added to the schedule, meaning prize money earned by players in the Majors could be added to the European Tour’s Order of Merit, which affected the end-of-season rankings. Not only that, but with a minimum requirement of 11 appearances needed for players to retain membership of the Tour, the addition of the Majors – along with three World Golf Championships in 1990 – made it easier for players to reach that target.

9. Seve Ballesteros holds the record for the highest number of DP World Tour wins with 50, eight more than Bernhard Langer in second place. Ballesteros’ first win on the Tour came in the 1976 Dutch Open, with the last in his homeland at the 1995 Spanish Open.

Seve Ballesteros after his 1995 Spanish Open win

Seve Ballesteros holds the record for most European Tour wins, with the last of 50 coming in the 1995 Spanish Open

10. The total prize money for the inaugural season of the Tour (excluding Majors) was £290,500. Adjusted for inflation, that would be £3.3m today (around $4m). In 2024, the prize fund will be $148.5m (approximately £121.5m).

Mike has over 25 years of experience in journalism, including writing on a range of sports throughout that time, such as golf, football and cricket. Now a freelance staff writer for Golf Monthly, he is dedicated to covering the game's most newsworthy stories. 

He has written hundreds of articles on the game, from features offering insights into how members of the public can play some of the world's most revered courses, to breaking news stories affecting everything from the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to developmental Tours and the amateur game. 

Mike grew up in East Yorkshire and began his career in journalism in 1997. He then moved to London in 2003 as his career flourished, and nowadays resides in New Brunswick, Canada, where he and his wife raise their young family less than a mile from his local course. 

Kevin Cook’s acclaimed 2007 biography, Tommy’s Honour, about golf’s founding father and son, remains one of his all-time favourite sports books.

So Yeon Ryu of South Korea plays a shot on the second hole during the second round of The Chevron Championship at The Club at Carlton Woods on April 19, 2024 i

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Letter from Europe

How LIV Golf has turned the DP World Tour's flagship event into golf's latest battlefield

1408588189

Andrew Redington

Down Wentworth way, around and about DP World Tour headquarters, it’s a proud boast. There, at the home of what was once the European Tour, the BMW PGA Championship is known as the flagship event. Has been for a long time. But, given the current adversarial state of world golf, a change of nomenclature is surely in order. This year at least, “battleship” might be a more appropriate description for this $8 million gathering of the Old World’s great and good.

Next week 19 players committed to the LIV Golf series are scheduled to take on the storied Burma Road course alongside tour loyalists like Rory McIlroy, Matt Fitzpatrick, Viktor Hovland and Jon Rahm. It is a situation almost guaranteed to provoke conflict between two camps that have so far shown little or no inclination to compromise. We’re talking deep black and vivid white, with no sign of a single shade of gray in between.

Only this week, DP World Tour chief executive, Keith Pelley, singled out the so-called rebels (who are allowed to play in DP events at least until a legal appeal against fines and suspensions levied by the tour is heard in February 2023) for not-so special treatment. In a memo circulated to members, Pelley made it clear that, while the LIV players will not be given any on-course competitive disadvantage in the shape of unfavorable tee times, “they will not be required to play in the pro-am on the Wednesday and will not be in TV featured groups.”

In a further memo sent only to the “naughty 19,” Pelley made a request: “Out of respect for our partners, our broadcasters and your fellow competitors, we would kindly ask you to consider not wearing LIV Golf-branded apparel during your participation at Wentworth.”

RELATED: Inside the PGA Tour - LIV Golf battle

It’s a harsh reality, one far removed from the much-vaunted camaraderie and bonhomie that has long characterized European Ryder Cup sides. Long-time stalwarts like Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Graeme McDowell, Henrik Stenson, Martin Kaymer and Sergio Garcia—never mind major champion and former Captain America Patrick Reed—are suddenly far from welcome in what used to be their home from home.

“I’m not critical of anyone who has gone to LIV,” says one DP World Tour professional who asked not to be named. “If I was offered a few million pounds, I would go. But I wouldn’t be petty on social media. That has disappointed the players. It has gotten to be personal.”

Oh yes. In the wake of his Tour Championship victory last week , McIlroy summed up his mood with some inevitably well-publicized remarks. “It's going to be hard for me to stomach going to Wentworth in a couple of weeks' time and seeing 18 of them there,” said the Northern Irishman, winner of the BMW PGA in 2014. “I hate it. I really do.”

1418883235

Cliff Hawkins

Strong words. But do they reflect a wider and prevailing mood amongst the more rank-and-file members of the DP World Tour? In the wake of McIlroy’s Tour Championship victory last week, his comments focused almost exclusively on the PGA Tour and its on-going conflict with LIV Golf. No mention was made of what is still, technically at least, the four-time major champion’s home circuit. Nor was there any hint of the transatlantic strategic alliance that exists between the PGA and DP World Tours.

“It was a little strange that Rory made no reference to the European Tour,” says Scotsman David Law, currently ranked 41st on the season-long Race to Dubai. “It would have been nice to hear that, say, the Scottish Open was going to be one of the 20 elite events next year. That would be a huge benefit to us, if we are really in a strategic alliance. But as long as they have guaranteed our prize money for next year and given us the opportunity to earn one of the 10 PGA Tour cards on offer, they are doing what they said they would do. They are not obliged to do anything above and beyond what has already been agreed.”

Still, not everyone is quite so sanguine when it comes to the deal that saw the Europeans choose Americans rather than Saudi Arabians as business partners. Even if the alliance guarantees record levels of prize money over each of the next five years, as well as a “transformed” DP World schedule in 2024, doubts remain.

“I’m very worried for the European Tour,” Westwood says. “But I have been telling Keith and other members of his board how this is all going to go for 12 months now. I told him that the strategic alliance and getting into bed with the PGA Tour was a mistake. I had a meeting with Keith and [PGA Tour commissioner] Jay [Monahan] in Ponte Vedra and heard what they had to say. And I didn’t like it. I mean, what company or organization gives away its 10 best assets at the end of every year? No one does that, especially to a rival or competitor. Now, the European Tour is nothing more than a feeder tour. Even if Keith is unwilling to admit that.”

Again, strong words. But Westwood is not alone in finding fault with Pelley’s decision.

“Strategic alliance is just a phrase of convenience,” says one European Tour insider. “It’s more a case of ‘yes, I’ll lend you some money but in return I’ll take half your house.’ That’s what the PGA Tour is doing to the DP World Tour.” Then there is Garcia. The Spaniard was recently scathing in his assessment. “What they are doing is a shame because the European Tour is going to become the fifth best in the world,” said the former Masters winner.

Another close observer of all things DP World is equally skeptical, but at least offers a possible alternative to the Rory/Tiger plan that will see the introduction of those 20 elite PGA Tour events in 2023.

“I admire the likes of Rory and company for getting together and recognizing what an awful idea the LIV tour is,” he says. “But they have come up with completely the wrong answer. They have the moral high ground. So why not be about growing the game? Why not be about dispersing money around the world in order to grow the so-called feeder tours? They are making enough money at the top, so what not create opportunity? Instead, they are taking all of the money. It just goes to show that good people trying to do the right thing can still be really stupid. Where does Pelley think giving away the top-ten players on his tour at the end of every year actually leads? It’s madness. There has to be something we’re not seeing. But I’m not sure what it is.”

RELATED: Attending the LIV Golf circus

Pointing to the quality of the field that will line-up at Wentworth next week, there are those within the DP World family who still harbor regrets that the tour did not opt to accept the Saudi cash that was apparently on offer. And at least one player, asking for anonymity, thinks changes at the top might be the quickest route to compromise and an end to the current hostilities.

“We are well past the stage where all sides should have sat down together and sorted something out,” he says. “We’ve even had players having a go at each other on social media. It’s really messy and disappointing. Maybe for something positive to happen there needs to be a change in leadership on all sides. Certainly in two of the three organizations.

“And yes, it would have been nice to know what would have happened had we gone with the Saudis. But when Keith spoke to us in Ireland earlier this year, I went into the meeting full of skepticism, but I came out fully behind the tour. The deal the Saudis actually put on the table wasn’t the one they had advertised. Given that, Keith was right to use them as leverage in coming to a deal with the PGA Tour.”

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Richard Heathcote

For all that note of positivity, perennial problems have continued to dog the DP World Tour in 2022. Apart from the early events in the Middle East and the Scottish Open immediately before the Open Championship, the circuit has endured the usual lengthy periods of fields best described as mediocre. Take the run of events between the Open and next week. Six of the seven have been completed so far, the winners ranked 329th, 341st, 304th, 211th, 275th and 131st in the world. Mediocre might actually be kind, a fact surely not lost on prospective sponsors.

“The fields have been really poor since the Open,” Law said. “We have too many events. That’s the basic problem. We had an incredible venue in Hillside for the Cazoo Classic the week after the Open. But only 138 played. The tour couldn’t fill the field. The same was true a week later when the Hero Open was at Fairmont, then again for the Cazoo Open at Celtic Manor. All three events are owned by the tour. Why not turn them into one and get a great field and great coverage? We actually dilute our product by having 40 events on TV every year. We want people to miss golf for a week.

“At Hillside we played third-fiddle to the Senior Open and the Women’s Scottish Open. So we had an 8 p.m. finish time on Sunday. It would have been better for us to just not have an event that week. I know we’ll have fewer events in 2024. If we have $150 million to play with, why not host 30 events with $5 million on offer every week? That would be a really attractive proposition for a lot of players. You might even get guys with PGA Tour cards playing a few.”

All of which is—possibly—for the future. More immediately, the DP World Tour has questions to answer. Which is what Pelley will be doing Tuesday during a players meeting at Wentworth. It promises to be a lively affair.

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