Westwood and Poulter back on DP World Tour as LIV players flock to Links

Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter are both in the field for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, which runs from 1 to 4 October, their first starts on the DP World Tour since the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in January 2023. They are far from the only LIV Golf players heading to Scotland.

Golf Monthly counts more than 20 LIV players in the field, including reserves, up sharply on last year. The list includes Cameron Smith, who won the 150th Open on the Old Course in 2022, Bubba Watson and three-time Dunhill Links champion Tyrrell Hatton. Westwood won the event in 2003. It is a pro-am with a $5 million purse, played over Kingsbarns, Carnoustie and the Old Course.

Westwood and Poulter resigned their DP World Tour memberships in 2023 after running up fines for playing LIV events without releases. For years both refused to pay, arguing the penalties were unfair. In June both settled what they owed, restoring their eligibility to play on the circuit, according to Golf Monthly and EssentiallySports. Today’s Golfer has reported the fines were just over $1 million each. Poulter said paying was always going to happen, and the timing “was down to myself and Lee to choose”, he told Today’s Golfer.

The payments do not reopen the Ryder Cup to them. Today’s Golfer notes that a rule introduced by Ryder Cup Europe in 2017 bars players who resigned their membership from serving as captain or vice-captain.

Also in the field, Matt Fitzpatrick arrives fresh from his Open de France win, Patrick Reed, top of the Race to Dubai, is out injured, and Walker Cup hero Josh Hill makes his professional debut.

For LIV players, a DP World Tour start offers Official World Golf Ranking points, and a competitive home in Europe if the league’s rescue falls through. LIV has been in Chapter 11 bankruptcy since 8 September, the Public Investment Fund has said it will stop funding it after this season, and players face a 13 October deadline to sign up to the proposed restructured “LIV 2.0”, as we set out last week.

Sources

• Golf Monthly: The 20+ LIV golfers teeing it up at the 2026 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship
• EssentiallySports: LIV golfers headline Alfred Dunhill Links as Westwood, Poulter end DP World Tour absence
• Today’s Golfer: Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter set for DP World Tour comeback
• Today’s Golfer: Westwood and Poulter pay DP World Tour fines, so why are they still banned from the Ryder Cup?
• The Golf News Net: 2026 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship field
• DP World Tour: Alfred Dunhill Links Championship 2026