DP World Tour new CEO, Guy Kinnings, assumed his role on April 2, succeeding Keith Pelley. With almost six years of experience in various leadership positions within the European Tour, Kinnings brings a wealth of knowledge to the table. His tenure coincides with a critical juncture in professional golf, as the sport grapples with the emergence of LIV Golf and the need for unity.
Needless to say, the DP World Tour CEO’s chair comes with enormous pressure. Not to be outdone, the circuit is in the middle of the whirlwind that currently surrounds men’s professional golf, so it is no coincidence that this was precisely the main topic on the agenda of Kinnings’ first meeting with the press after being appointed to his new position.
Within the civil war in men’s professional golf, the integration of the teams to the Ryder Cup has been one of the issues that most concerns the fans. The new CEO of the DP World Tour settled all doubts by stating categorically that Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton and the rest of the European players are, in principle, eligible to represent Europe.
So said Greg Kinnings:
“If you look at eligibility criteria for 2023, then I think there has been a slight misconception. The reality is, under the current rules, if a player is European, a member of the DP World Tour and abides by the rules – if you don’t get a release there are sanctions and you take those penalties – there is no reason why players who have taken LIV membership could not qualify or be available for selection.”
These comments from the new CEO of the DP World Tour have spread like wildfire throughout the golf world. Remember, Europe did not send its LIV players to the 2023 Ryder Cup, not because their game was not up to par, but because they chose to play in the breakaway league.
While Rahm and Hatton remain members of the DP World Tour, they must apply for a release to compete on the Saudi funded tour. Fines of up to $125,000 are possible and such penalties prompted the likes of Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood to resign their memberships from the DP World Tour, thus rendering them ineligible for Ryder Cup selection.
However, it follows from what Kinnings said that as long as Rahm, Hatton and any other member of the European tour (Adrian Meronk, to name one) do not renounce their membership and serve any penalties imposed on them, they can aspire to a place in the team for the Ryder Cup.
Rory McIlroy previously called for a change to the eligibility rules when Rahm left for LIV before the end of 2023 but new European boss Kinnings who will reside at the tour’s Wentworth base doesn’t see a need for such a move.
Other topics addressed by the new CEO of the DP World Tour
Guy Kinnings also spoke about the need for golf to shift its mindset towards becoming a more global game. He believes that this shift plays to the strengths of the DP World Tour, which has a global footprint and has been staging events in different countries for 50 years. Kinnings sees this as an opportunity for the tour to help shape the game in the right way, and he is optimistic that a more global approach can elevate the sport. He said:
“I have been working closely with our players, our Board, our partners and our staff over the past six years and I feel we have a great opportunity to look forward and to focus on unity and alignment in the game.”
“I’ve been lucky enough to be in a lot of recent discussions that have been going on, and I’m optimistic that we can look forward to a bright future for the sport. I think there’s been a shift in thinking about the game of golf to a more global mindset, and that’s something we really welcome and that’s something that plays to our strengths.”
In his vision for the future of golf, Kinnings favors a model that is truly international, with a “world tour” comprising 20 events that would integrate the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour. He believes that this model would allow for the best players to compete more often, which is what fans want to see. Kinnings also emphasized the importance of integrating team golf, such as the Ryder Cup, into any new global circuit.
Guy Kinnings also had words of thanks for the trust placed in him to take the reins of the DP World Tour. He said:
“Today is a very proud day for me and my family. It is a real privilege to become the Chief Executive of the European Tour Group and it is a responsibility I do not take lightly. Our Tour has such a wonderful history, and I am delighted to have this opportunity to help shape the next exciting phase in its evolution.”
Guy Kinnings’ declarations on the eligibility of LIV golf players and his vision for the future of golf as a global game have set the tone for his tenure as the new DP World Tour chief. Let’s see what the future holds.