27 April 2024 , 15:33
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Newly-appointed DP World Tour CEO Guy Kinnings has admitted than any real change at the top of the world of professional golf will not be implemented until after 2025.
The sport has been divided in two since the formation of LIV Golf in the summer of 2022, with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour taking action against players who opted to sign with the Saudi-backed league. Last summer it appeared the dispute was set to come to an end though, with the PGA Tour announcing a shock framework agreement with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF).
With the DP World Tour also included, it was expected that the two rivals would negotiate a deal that would see the world of professional golf reunite, but 10 months on a finalised agreement is yet to be made.
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Kinnings - who has replaced Keith Pelley at the top of European golf - opened up on what the future holds for pro golf, but revealed changes will take time. "We know [a deal] has to be done ASAP," he said. "I don’t see too much changing in 2025. 2026 is when we will see significant changes.
"To do that we need 2025 to prepare. I’m not setting any deadlines. But to plan a new product for 2026 you really need to have it done by the end of this year. Everyone needs to be flexible and compromise. Once we have the right solution we need to move fast."
As things stand, the PGA Tour have banned all of its members that have opted to sign on the dotted line with Greg Norman and co, which has seen the likes of Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm punished. The DP World Tour have adopted a similar approach, albeit not as cut throat.
Guy Kinnings had his say on the peace deal (Getty Images)The European circuit was granted the power to fine and suspend any of its members who compete in LIV Golf events whilst a DP World Tour tournament is also taking place at the same time. This has seen a number of stars resign their memberships from the tour, including Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood.
In doing so though, this has seen three of Europe's greatest players give up their Ryder Cup eligibility. This has led to fears that both Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton may well have lost their chance to represent their continent in the USA next September, after the pair played an instrumental part in Team Europe's win in Rome last Autumn.
Kinnings however has reassured that as things stand, the pair remain eligible to compete. “If we look at the eligibility criteria for 2023, I think there has been a slight misconception,” the CEO added. "The reality is that, under the current system, if a player is European and is a member of the DP World Tour and abides by the rules in place, he is eligible.”