Hatton confirmed his departure from LIV Golf 2.0 on Friday 23 October. Afterwards Tom McKibbin also spoke, announcing a full DP World Tour schedule for 2027. Zero out of two. Two more to add to a larger list.
Amid the defections, debate arises. Joost Luiten has already shown himself opposed to the return, although the DP World Tour member who has gone deepest into the matter has been Eddie Pepperell. The Englishman believes that losing playing opportunities in favour of certain players coming from LIV would be “an absolute betrayal”. His criticism targets the DP World Tour’s potential invitations and their consequences for those who had to regain their rights at Qualifying School.
He wrote it this Saturday in The Chipping Forecast, his Substack publication, under the title Charles & Eddie
Howell III, Pieters, Grace and Oosthuizen singled out
Pepperell distinguishes between additions that could bring an obvious commercial benefit and those that, in his view, would not justify special treatment. He would accept invitations for Joaquín Niemann, Cameron Smith and Bryson DeChambeau, and notes that Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton have their own exemptions. For the others, he defends the route of Qualifying School.
The case that surprises him most is that of Charles Howell III. “The idea that Charles Howell III is on this list […] is absolutely strange”, he writes, after clarifying that he holds the American in high personal regard.
He also questions possible favours for Thomas Pieters, Branden Grace and Louis Oosthuizen. He considers it “a miscalculation”: he does not believe their presence will generate enough spectators and audiences to materially improve the tour’s finances in 2027.
The Englishman acknowledges the financial difficulties facing the DP World Tour and the need to bolster its tournaments. His objection is that this strategy could end up harming those who earn their opportunities through results.
The discussion has a personal consequence: if he finishes 101st in the Race to Dubai, he is considering rethinking his entry to Qualifying School to improve his category. He wants to set out his position before Sunday’s outcome is known, not afterwards once he knows whether he will be one of those affected
Ferguson questions the change of tone; Westwood also calls for Qualifying School
Ewen Ferguson had raised another aspect of the debate on Friday. The Scot welcomes the return of good players, but reproaches some for the contrast between their previous criticisms of the European circuit and the enthusiasm with which they now announce their return.
His comment about those who present the return as a homecoming coincides with the expression used by Branden Grace when announcing his decision: “Returning to the DP World Tour is like coming home”
Richard Mansell backed Ferguson and took an equally selective position: “Some should be allowed back and others not”.
Lee Westwood has also intervened, acknowledging the need to attract names during months with weaker fields. His proposal distinguishes between players who retain an exemption and those who do not: the latter, he argues, “should go through Qualifying School like everyone else”.
Westwood adds a critique of the relationship with the PGA Tour. He questions whether the US circuit can be considered merely a partner, when it also competes for players and business. Joost Luiten had defended a more restrictive position: those who gave up being members should also lose their former exemption rights
Hatton confirms his departure and McKibbin announces a full European schedule
The debate takes place as the number of players ruling out the new version of LIV rises. Tyrrell Hatton confirmed it on Friday via an Instagram story: “I will not be part of LIV 2.0”. He thanked those who had supported him and said his next appearance would be in Abu Dhabi.
Tom McKibbin then followed, announcing the end of his two seasons with Legion XIII and specifying his next step: “I will play a full DP World Tour schedule in 2027”.
The Northern Irishman does not renounce his previous decision. He considers joining LIV was appropriate at the time and is grateful for what he learned alongside Rahm, Hatton and Caleb Surratt. He now understands that returning to the European circuit is the best option to achieve his goals
Departures announced and those reported via third parties
They were preceded by Jon Rahm, David Puig, Thomas Pieters, Louis Oosthuizen, Ian Poulter, Branden Grace and Lucas Herbert, although their decisions became known through different channels. Bubba Watson revealed it to Ten Golf.
Rahm announced his refusal to take part in LIV 2.0 through his legal representation. Puig explained it personally during the Spanish Open, where he expressed his intention to compete in a broader European schedule. Pieters confirmed his decision to Flushing It.
Oosthuizen announced this week his departure and his intention to return to the DP World Tour. Grace has also announced that return. Poulter, whose departure we reported on Friday, is planning a different stage, with less travelling, more time with his family and participation in senior competitions.
Herbert likewise confirmed to Flushing It that he will leave the league to play in Europe. His departure comes after a season with two LIV victories and fourth place in the individual standings.
To that list are added Abraham Ancer and Charles Howell III, whose decisions not to renew were revealed by Josh Carpenter, of Sports Business Journal, citing sources familiar with their plans. Both intend to seek opportunities on the DP World Tour. Their cases should be distinguished from announcements made directly by the players.
Adrian Meronk also appears in the exit tallies, after Polish journalist Jacek Person reported that he had no intention of renewing. Meronk himself later said in India that he would most likely focus on the DP World Tour, although at that time he still said he had not made a definitive official decision
Sergio and Niemann require clarification
Sergio García appears on several lists of departures because his previous contract ended. However, that disassociation does not by itself rule out a new agreement with LIV 2.0. At the Spanish Open he left that possibility open, in addition to expressing his interest in playing in Europe and returning to the Ryder Cup. The two things are incompatible, so it seems clear that Sergio will not continue with LIV either.
On Joaquín Niemann reports have also been published pointing to a departure, but there is no definitive confirmation comparable to the announcements from Hatton or McKibbin. The Chilean had said he was considering both continuing and playing more in Europe.
The efforts by Cameron Smith, Marc Leishman, Byeong Hun An and Matthew Wolff to clarify their contractual situation and obtain freedom to negotiate should not automatically be turned into departures.
The calendar forces decisions. 25 October is the scheduled date for commitments to LIV 2.0, although it may be extended, and the DP World Tour has already announced that those who sign with the new league will not be able to be members of the European circuit in 2027.
For those who decide to leave, another question remains: what rights they retain, which they must recover and how many invitations they will receive. That is where the discussion Pepperell has taken to the level of individual names is focused
