'Many inaccuracies': DP World Tour chief hits back at LIV Golf players over legal threat

In an open letter leaked to the media, 16 players implored the Tour to rescind bans and fines

Dustin Johnson watches a tee shot during the first round of the Portland Invitational LIV Golf tournament in North Plains, Oregon. AP

Carlos Ortiz chips on to the 15th green. AP

Bryson DeChambeau lines up his putt on the third hole. AFP

Phil Mickelson acknowledges the gallery as he walks up to the green on the third hole. AFP

Hideto Tanihara of Japan lines up his putt on the third hole. AFP

Pat Perez watches his tee shot on the fourth hole. AP

Abraham Ancer of Mexico plays his shot on the fifth tee. EPA

Matthew Wolff of the US grabs a club on the fifth hole. EPA

Golf fans take pictures of Brooks Koepka of the US on the fourth hole. EPA

Patrick Reed lines up his putt on the third hole. AFP

Ian Poulter of England hits his tee shot on the fourth hole. AFP

Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa hits his tee shot on the fourth hole. AFP

Phil Mickelson of the US plays his second shot from the rough on the second hole. EPA

Golf fans watch play on the sixth hole. EPA

Bryson DeChambeau of the US greets fans. EPA

Shaun Norris watches his tee shot on the 16th hole. AP

DP World Tour chief executive Keith Pelley has issued a scathing response to the LIV Golf players who threatened legal action against the tour if their bans and fines were not removed.

DP World Tour members including Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood were each fined £100,000 ($120,000) and banned from next week's Scottish Open and two other events co-sanctioned with the PGA Tour.

The punishment came after they played in the opening event of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf series earlier this month, despite being refused permission by the DP World Tour.

Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, and Bryson DeChambeau are among the US-based players who have signed up for the LIV Golf events.

In an open letter published by The Telegraph, the 16 players implored the DP World Tour to reconsider the penalties.

They claimed the recent strengthened partnership between the PGA Tour and DP World Tour in response to the growing strength of the LIV Series leaves the European-based circuit playing "second fiddle" to the US-based tournaments.

The players also called for a Tour membership meeting to discuss the matter, threatening that "you will leave us with no choice but to employ the various other means and methods at our disposal to rectify these wrongs".

But Pelley responded by criticising the players' claim that they "care deeply" about the Tour, insisting the sanctions handed out are "proportionate, fair and, I believe, considered necessary by the majority of our members".

He also said one player gave a signed commitment to play in this week's Irish Open, but is instead contesting the second LIV Golf event in Portland.

"There has been a leak to the media of a letter we received on behalf of a number of LIV Golf players which contains so many inaccuracies that it cannot remain unchallenged," Pelley said in a statement.

"Before joining LIV Golf, players knew there would be consequences if they chose money over competition.

"Many of them at the time understood and accepted that. Indeed, as one player named in the letter said in a media interview earlier this year; 'If they ban me, they ban me.' It is not credible that some are now surprised with the actions we have taken."

Pelley is adamant the DP World Tour's closer relationship with the PGA Tour has not diluted the strength of the European events.

"We held a player meeting in Ireland on Tuesday where we outlined in great detail all the many benefits of our expanded relationship with the PGA Tour," he said.

"One of those is an unprecedented 10 cards on offer to the PGA Tour, cards that many of the players named in this letter desperately wanted to attain in the early stages of their careers. Why now be critical of those trying to do the same?"