Ian Poulter not ruling out a DP World Tour return

Ian Poulter has not ruled out a return to the DP World Tour in the wake of the prospective peace deal between golf’s warring factions.

Poulter resigned his membership after 23 years on the European circuit in response to the heap of suspensions and fines he faced after joining the breakaway LIV Golf League.

Alongside fellow DP World Tour stalwarts Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia and Henrik Stenson, the Englishman made himself ineligible for the Ryder Cup when handing in his tour card back in May.

But the subsequent announcement of a framework agreement between the Saudi Public Investment Fund bankrolling the LIV enterprise and the PGA and DP World Tours has left the door ajar for blacklisted players to return to their old domains.

And speaking in the latest edition of bunkered, issue 206, Poulter hinted that he is open to playing again on the formerly known European Tour.

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“As it stands right now I wouldn’t, but let’s wait and see the details of the framework agreement,” he said when asked if he would ever consider re-applying for his membership.

“Never say never. I played my whole career on the European Tour, I’ve never missed a year. I always played more than my minimum tournaments and that was to my financial detriment not playing more PGA Tour events at the time.

“I stayed very committed and loyal to the DP World Tour so who knows. If it works out right for everybody then I could certainly well rejoin, but we’ll see.”

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With no definitive information yet released on the framework deal that would see the tours unite as one for-profit entity, it remains unclear whether a resolution will be found before the December 31 agreement deadline.

But Poulter, who co-captains the Majesticks GC team at LIV, has welcomed the truce in golf’s corridors of power.

“It’s good that the powers that be within the game of golf have realised that they perhaps need to try and work together,” he said.

“Whether it actually happens or not we’ll have to wait and see. We’re all eager to find out the details that come out and what can be made from it.”

• Read the full exclusive interview with Ian Poulter in issue 206 of bunkered, now on-sale in all good newsagents. Alternately, click here to subscribe.

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.