When LIV Golf launched in June 2022, men’s professional golf was in a state of push-and-pull. What began as a commercial disruption quickly became a political battlefield, drawing in fans, governing bodies, and players who found themselves forced to choose sides. Three years later, that divide has taken on a new form, as one two-time major champion spoke out about double standards while Jon Rahm and Tyrell Hutton await a verdict on their fines.

We’re talking about Martin Kaymer. In an interview relayed by the outlet Flushing It, he said: “The thing is, at the beginning, I think we got the most heat, for leaving certain tours and coming here.”

When Martin Kaymer joined LIV early on, the DP World Tour responded swiftly. A legal ruling in April 2023 confirmed that the Tour’s “conflicting tournament” regulation was valid. Players who participated in LIV events without a release were ordered to pay £100,000 fines each. He was among those listed in the group of sanctioned players. 

After the ruling, many (like Sergio García, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood), including Kaymer, resigned their membership. The combination of fines and potential suspensions made remaining on the DP World Tour increasingly difficult. At the time, there was little ambiguity about the consequences of crossing over to LIV.

Then came the arrivals of Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton for the 2024 LIV season. Their situations unfolded under very different external conditions. The DP World Tour and the global golf landscape were in flux. Because of shifting commercial negotiations and evolving legal standing, the same harsh consequences did not immediately apply. Rahm and Hatton maintained Tour membership long enough to enter European events. Eventually, they represented Europe at the 2025 Ryder Cup.

From Kaymer’s point of view, and from the view of many inside the game, the contrast is stark. “There's no judging or right or wrong. Time developed, and therefore certain things played in their hands. Sometimes you do feel like, and this is not towards Tyrrell or Jon, but sometimes you feel like they have different rules for different people. I just find it very strange and I would like to understand it.”

Players who once risked everything now feel like their sacrifice was treated as a test run. What had been applied as strict, automatic penalties to early joiners was handled with noticeably more flexibility when later stars made the switch. It's important not to forget, back in 2023, LIV and PGA announced the merger and the punishments did ease as a result. However, negotiations have stalled since then.

That is why the debate is far from over. Until the governing bodies define and enforce transparent, uniform standards, no matter who you are or when you joined, the question of fairness will linger in every locker room and tournament field.

Fair play or foul play? Swing your opinion in the comments

Written by

Aditi Singh

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar