LIV Golf paid an outstanding £1.5 million fine to the DP World Tour to allow its former player Bernd Wiesberger to make a return to the Wentworth-based circuit for 2024.
Earlier this week Wiesberger announced he would be returning to compete on the DP World Tour after a two-year sabbatical with the LIV setup. And according to The Telegraph, the Saudi-funded series cleared a record fine to allow Wiesberger to make his comeback.
The Austrian was one of a number of players who were issued a fine and suspended from the European circuit, after a succesful arbitration process that was concluded earlier this year.
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On the back of the punishment the likes of Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Sergio Garcia all opted to resign their memberships to avoid further sanctioning, but their former Ryder Cup teammate Wiesberger opted to keep hold of his Tour card - and for good reason.
The 38-year-old avoided automatic relegation from the LIV circuit last month, after finishing the 2023 campaign just four spots above the drop zone. Wiesberger then entered the free agency on the Saudi-backed circuit, but instead of pursuing a new deal opted to make a return to the DP World Tour.
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Per the report, Greg Norman and co had initially informed its players that they would settle any fines imposed on them for making the Saudi switch. Those at the LIV setup appeared confident that players would be able to compete across both tours, before their legal loss in April.
Wiesberger's last DP World Tour performance came at this year's Dubai Desert Classic, and the Austrian's return will come at the very same event in two months time after serving a Tour suspension. Announcing his return, he said: "I am happy to announce that my focus for next year will entirely be on the DP World Tour.
"I have never resigned my membership and therefore I am grateful for the opportunity to be able to play a full schedule once again. Included in that will be the traditional national championships that are such a big part of the tour and where I have enjoyed some success in the past.
"I look forward to playing in those and, of course, getting started back in Dubai in January. Thank you for your support." Wiesberger's comments came after the DP World Tour themselves announced they had approved the Austrian's application to return, with Tour CEO Keith Pelley giving the former Ryder Cup star the green light.
Austrian Bernd Wiesberger’s application for membership for the 2024 season has been accepted by the DP World Tour," a statement read. " Wiesberger’s membership ceased, and he was removed from the Race to Dubai, after he failed to comply with the Tour’s minimum counting event regulation for the 2023 season, having played in only two counting tournaments – the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
"He subsequently expressed his desire to play a full DP World Tour schedule in 2024 and has fulfilled all sanctions – both financial and tournament suspensions - that were imposed upon him for breaches of the Tour’s conflicting event regulation across 2022 and 2023. Consequently, his request for reinstatement has been granted by DP World Tour Chief Executive Keith Pelley, in accordance with the procedure set out in the Members’ Regulations."