Why 14 LIV stars are allowed to make DP World Tour return

Brooks Koepka will lead a 14-strong LIV Golf contingent at this week’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

The five-time major champion announced his surprise return to the annual Pro-Am last month and will be joined by some big names from the breakaway league.

Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton are also competing at the $5million showpiece, played across St Andrews’ famed Old Course, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns.

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“I’ve been fortunate to play in several Dunhill Links, as well as two Open Championships at St Andrews over the years, and these trips are always highlights to my year,” Koepka said, according to the tournament’s official website.

“The atmosphere on and off the course at the Dunhill is fantastic. I was able to play with my father one year and my good friend and caddie, Ricky Elliott, another. Those two weeks will always be very special to me.”

“I love Links golf and St Andrews is my favourite course in the world. I could play there every day for the rest of my life and never get tired of it.”

Koepka is playing having received an invite via the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship Committee, which is run by Richement.

Many of the LIV players – including Louis Oosthuizen, Talor Gooch, Branden Grace and Dean Burmester – are playing having also received invites by Richemont, the company chaired by South African business Johann Rupert.

The inclusion of two-time past champion Hatton and Rahm, meanwhile, is particularly intriguing.

The duo are both teeing it up in Scotland having appealed sanctions imposed by the DP World Tour for playing in LIV events without permission. This tournament will help the Legion XIII teammates fulfil the requirements they need to retain Tour membership and remain eligible for the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.

Meanwhile, LIV’s Patrick Reed, who has given a rare exclusive interview in the latest issue of bunkered, is also in the field and qualifies having made the top-ten in the Spanish Open last week.

With Rory McIlroy and a host of other European Ryder Cup stars also playing, the DP World Tour has assembled one of the strongest fields of its season.

Here are the 14 LIV players who will be switching tours for the week at the Home of Golf…

LIV Golf players in Alfred Dunhill Links Championship field

Brooks Koepka

Jon Rahm

Tyrrell Hatton

Patrick Reed

Talor Gooch

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Pat Perez

Louis Oosthuizen

Matt Jones

Branden Grace

Dean Burmester

Peter Uhlein

David Puig

Eugenio Chacarra

Hudson Swafford

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.