Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger rejoins golf’s DP World Tour after LIV spell
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Bernd Wiesberger finished 41st in the LIV Golf individual standings last season.
PHOTO: REUTERS
LONDON – Bernd Wiesberger is putting his two seasons with LIV Golf in his rear-view mirror and returning to the European tour for the 2024 season, he and the tour said on Nov 23.
“I am happy to announce that my focus for next year will be entirely on the DP World Tour,” Wiesberger, 38, said in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter.
The Austrian finished 41st in the LIV Golf individual standings in 2023 and was one of five LIV professionals whose contract had expired, prompting his team, Cleeks GC, to do the same.
He could have tried to win back his place at the Dec 8-10 LIV qualifying school in Abu Dhabi, but has instead opted to head back to Europe. The European circuit said his application for the 2024 tour had been accepted and that all financial and sporting sanctions for leaving for a rival tour had been fulfilled by Wiesberger.
Several media reports have noted that LIV had paid a record £1.5 million (S$2.53 million) fine on Wiesberger’s behalf.
During his two years playing 22 LIV events, Wiesberger earned more than US$4 million (S$5.36 million) in prize money.
Other European stars who had also jumped ship include Ryder Cup legends Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson and Graeme McDowell.
The tour said Wiesenberger’s membership was removed “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”.
It added that his expressed desire to return to a full DP World Tour schedule in 2024 was a factor in reinstating his membership.
In June, the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Golf stunned the sporting world by announcing they are merging to form “a new collectively owned” entity.
The shock declaration comes after a year of unprecedented disruption in the men’s professional game following the launch of the Saudi-backed circuit.
“I never resigned my membership and therefore I am grateful for the opportunity to be able to play a full schedule once again,” Wiesberger’s statement said.
He competed on the former European Tour from 2011 until 2021, notching eight wins. He also finished third in the Race to Dubai in 2019.
He made his debut at the Ryder Cup for Team Europe at Whistling Straits in 2021.
His last DP World Tour event was the Desert Classic in January and could feature in the 2024 edition. The US$8 million tournament will be in Dubai from Jan 18-21. REUTERS
