After three years of silence: Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter are finally back on the DP World Tour! The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship 2026 will be a showdown, as an XXL contingent of the LIV Golf League will join the two veterans. The golf world breathes a sigh of relief, as the cold war between the tours seems, at least partially, to be thawing.
The path back was not without hurdles: Only in June 2026 did Westwood and Poulter settle their outstanding fines with the DP World Tour. This has now reopened the door for their first tour appearance since the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in January 2023. This hiatus has certainly been felt, and the excitement for their return is immense.
LIV Powerplay on the Green
A total of 25 LIV players are participating this year – a significant number and considerably more than the 16 from the previous year. Alongside returnees Westwood and Poulter, several heavyweights are included: three-time winner Tyrrell Hatton, known for his performances on these courses, Cameron Smith and Bubba Watson, who were already present in 2025, as well as Lucas Herbert, Adrian Meronk, and many other high-caliber players from the LIV Golf League. This event is going to be intense!
More Than Just a Tournament
The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is already a highlight on the DP World Tour calendar, renowned for its epic venues: St Andrews, Carnoustie, and Kingsbarns. The tournament's 25th anniversary in 2026 gains a very special significance with this lineup. It's a clear sign that the hardened fronts between LIV Golf and the DP World Tour are slowly but surely relaxing – and that's incredibly positive for the sport.
