Charles Howell III Eyes Return to DP World Tour
The veteran golfer recently appeared at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship as LIV Golf faces financial uncertainty.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Golf
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In October 2026, 47-year-old Charles Howell III signaled interest in returning to the DP World Tour. The move follows reports that LIV Golf funding has ceased, leaving players to seek alternative competitive paths.
Why it matters
LIV Golf players are actively looking for new opportunities as their league faces potential collapse. Loyal DP World Tour members have expressed criticism, arguing that players who left for financial reasons should not be allowed back without significant consequences.
Charles Howell III, 47, has only played one DP World Tour event outside of majors and WGC events over his 26-year career. By contrast, European Tour veteran Joost Luiten holds six tour victories.
The players
Charles Howell III
He is a veteran professional golfer currently in his 26th year of competition.
Joost Luiten
He is a six-time European Tour winner who has participated in the tour for years.
Jon Rahm
He is a prominent professional golfer who chose to pay fines to retain his DP World Tour membership.
Tyrrell Hatton
He is a professional golfer who fulfilled his event quotas to keep his standing on the European circuit.
The details
Players returning to the circuit must navigate a process to regain memberships and exemption rights. While figures like Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton have maintained their status by paying fines and fulfilling quotas, the broader group of defectors from dissolved teams like Crushers GC faces an uncertain future as they prepare for a 2027 mandate requiring a choice between tours.
Timeline
October 2026: Charles Howell III competed in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
2027: The deadline for players to choose between LIV Golf and DP World Tour events.
Season Trajectory
The shifting landscape is being driven by the DP World Tour's 2027 exclusivity mandate, which forces players to commit to one tour. This development effectively ends the era of players easily moving between competing leagues as funding for LIV Golf wanes.
Fans should monitor which specific former LIV participants manage to secure full playing privileges before the 2027 deadline. These roster changes will directly impact which stars appear on future European Tour leaderboards and how fields are constructed for major events.
The takeaway
The potential return of LIV defectors signals a major shift in the stability of professional golf's landscape. Players are increasingly forced to prioritize long-term tour eligibility over the short-term financial incentives that previously drove them away.
Further reading
For more updates on professional tours, visit the Golf section.
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Should athletes who left for competing leagues be allowed to return to their former tours?
