Andrew Coltart has shared his reaction to the news that Keith Pelley will leave the DP World Tour this year, with the 60-year-old set to take up a position back in his native Canada.
Of course, golf is getting used to upheaval at this point. 2023 ended with a bang, with Jon Rahm announcing that he had decided to leave the PGA Tour and DP World Tour to join LIV Golf.
And it seems that more key figures are moving on from the established tours. Rumours emerged this week that Keith Pelley was set to leave his post as the CEO of the European Tour.
Andrew Coltart reacts as Keith Pelley leaves DP World Tour
The DP World Tour would confirm on Thursday that Pelley is indeed departing to take up a position with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, one of the largest entertainment companies in North America.
And ahead of the tour formally announcing Pelley’s departure, Andrew Coltart discussed the reports on Sky Sports (broadcast on 11/1; 7:41), and he suggested that his exit will only add to the uncertainty.
“It’s doing its best to keep front and foremost in the headlines and everybody’s mind. Very interesting, we were talking about the framework agreement that came in place, Jimmy Dunne here this week a big influence on that, that started in June, they had until December 31st to come together, with PIF, the Fenway group, the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour. That deadline has been extended. No flesh has been added to that framework if you like,” he said.
“So times as you said are very uncertain, rudderless, so there’s an awful lot of questions out there, not many answers. But one of the questions is why now.”
Upheaval in golf only continues
The DP World Tour have confirmed that Guy Kinnings will replace Pelley at the start of April. So the encouraging news is that Pelley’s departure is not so much of a shock to those working behind the scenes.
But clearly, the world of golf is going through a remarkable phase right now. And it seems almost impossible to call how the sport is going to look in the next few months, let alone the next few years.
Coltart’s reaction will sum up how many feel. There are only more questions emerging from this news. And there will be a lot of speculation over whether what is to come in golf’s immediate future has had any impact on Pelley’s decision.
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