Lee Westwood says the DP World Tour has a big problem that wasn’t an issue before he moved to LIV Golf

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Lee Westwood was one of the high-profile DP World Tour names to move to LIV Golf back in 2022.

The Englishman, along with Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson and Sergio Garcia, all turned their backs on one of golf’s traditional tours, which now looks thin on the ground when it comes to names that can garner attention.

Westwood hasn’t featured on the DP World Tour since his move to LIV. It’s believed the 51-year-old still needs to clear £850,000 worth of fines before any return can be considered.

The Englishman has shared his thoughts on the current situation, and Westwood has claimed he won’t be paying the fine. Now, the 25-time European Tour stalwart has spoken about a big issue his former employers face.

Lee Westwood: DP World Tour face a big problem due to LIV Golf departures

• READ MORE: Lee Westwood says what happened in 2010 was his proudest moment in golf

Speaking during the latest Fairway to Heaven Podcast on LIV Golf’s YouTube, Westwood suggested that the lack of household names has impacted the next generation of DP World Tour players coming through the ranks.

“I was talking to somebody about the European Tour the other day and was saying that the problem the European Tour have got now is a lot of the older guys like me – Sergio, Poults, Henrik – the players people have watched over the last 20, 25, 30 years have moved onto another tour,” said Westwood.

“Now we would’ve been playing European Tour events, and people would’ve been watching us, and when the next generation came through and got successful, they would’ve started getting drawn into groups with us. Those people watching us would’ve got a slow initiation of the next lot coming through.”

Westwood went on to highlight Daniel Brown’s emergence at The Open as the perfect example of the lack of interest in the DP World Tour.

He added: “When it comes to The Open, and there’s a new kid on the block – Brown played well at the Open – people are like, this is amazing. This kid come from nowhere. Where actually he’s been playing on the European Tour and won on the European Tour, we’ve just not been watching it.” 

Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Sergio Garcia started DP World Tour issues

Ironically, it was Westwood and the DP World Tour LIV Golf rebels who caused the lack of interest.

Those who joined Greg Norman’s venture were made on the European Tour and should’ve shown more desire to safeguard the competition’s future. Instead, the likes of Westwood are now highlighting issues they’ve been directly involved in causing.

Of course, the DP World Tour has been staunch in its view of players who moved to LIV. But if the fines are paid, LIV stars can participate, as Patrick Reed did at the BMW International Open.

Westwood, Poulter, and Stenson should really keep their opinions on the DP World Tour to themselves, particularly when their exits have largely caused the issues.