LIV Golfers Get Relief As DPWT Drops Fines for the 2026 Season: Report

Sonali SV

January 31, 2026 | 3:49 PM EST

LIV Golfers Get Relief As DPWT Drops Fines for the 2026 Season: Report — LIV Golfers get relief as DPWT drops fines for the 2026 season: Report

A reported policy change by the DP World Tour could ease long-running tensions for LIV Golf players heading into the 2026 season.

According to social media outlet Flushing It the DP World Tour is preparing to stop issuing fines to members who compete in the LIV Golf League going forward. Any penalties handed out up to the end of 2025 would still need to be paid.

Flushing It shared the update on X, writing:

“Multiple sources indicate that the DP World Tour will drop fines for members playing on the LIV Golf League for this season. All existing fines up until the end of 2025 will need to be settled, but releases will be granted to all members who apply for competing LIV Golf League events in 2026. In addition, the DP World Tour has the right to nominate events players must commit to.”

If confirmed, the move would allow players who hold membership on both tours to compete more freely without facing fresh financial penalties. LIV Golf’s 2026 season is set to begin this week in Riyadh with contracted players expected to appear in every event.

The reported change would be a big boost for players like Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, who are still DP World Tour members and have been challenging sanctions tied to their LIV appearances.Rahm has already confirmed that the fines issued to him through 2025 have crossed $3 million.

While dropping future fines would ease pressure, past penalties still matter. Players who fail to settle them could lose DP World Tour membership, which would also affect Ryder Cup eligibility.

The update comes at an important moment for LIV Golf as it continues to push for stronger recognition within the global golf system including issues around world ranking points.

If the policy shift goes ahead it would signal a clear softening in the DP World Tour’s approach and could reshape how players move between the two circuits in the years ahead.

DP World Tour introduces new events and tighter playing rights for 2026 season

The DP World Tour has revealed its 2026 calendar, featuring new tournaments, venue changes and updated rules around tour cards.

The next season will include 42 tournaments across 25 countries. The Race to Dubai will once again run through regional “swings,” before moving into the Back 9 phase and finishing with the season-ending playoffs.

One of the new additions is the Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship in Barcelona, which will be played at Real Club de Golf El Prat. The event comes as part of the wider agreement linked to Spain hosting the 2031 Ryder Cup at Camiral.

The Irish Open will also move to a new location, with Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg set to host the tournament. Meanwhile, the Scottish Championship, which was recently held in Aberdeen is not currently listed although there is still an open date in August.

Alongside the schedule update,the Tour confirmed several changes to how players qualify and keep their status.

From 2026 onward, only the top 100 players in the Race to Dubai rankings will automatically keep full playing rights for the following season. That number was previously 110.Those finishing between 101 and 110 will receive conditional status and be grouped with Qualifying School graduates during the year.

The number of cards available through the HotelPlanner Tour will drop from 20 to 15, while Qualifying School will also offer fewer full DP World Tour cards, reducing from 20 to 15.

Players finishing 16th to 20th on the Road to Mallorca Rankings will now fall into a lower category, sitting just below those ranked 111 to 125 on the Race to Dubai list.

Top performers from several international tours will still earn pathways onto the DP World Tour, with additional players from tours in Australasia, Japan, Korea and South Africa receiving HotelPlanner Tour status.

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