Polish golf star Adrian Meronk faces a major career setback as reports suggest he is on the brink of losing his DP World Tour card, just a year after being hailed as one of Europe’s brightest talents.
The 31-year-old, who made the controversial switch to LIV Golf earlier this season, has seen his standing on the DP World Tour collapse amid ongoing tensions between the traditional tours and the Saudi-backed league.
Once a Rising European Star
Before his move, Meronk was one of the most consistent performers on the DP World Tour. He secured multiple victories, including the Irish Open and the Australian Open, and was widely tipped to feature in Europe’s Ryder Cup teambefore being controversially left out by captain Luke Donald in 2023.
That omission, which Meronk admitted left him “heartbroken,” was followed by a stunning defection to LIV Golf, where he joined forces with some of the sport’s biggest names, including Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, and Cameron Smith.
However, while LIV’s lucrative contracts offered financial security, the move has come at a heavy professional cost.
The Cost of Defection
The DP World Tour has maintained strict sanctions for LIV players, including suspensions and hefty fines for those participating in unsanctioned events. With limited appearances and no ranking points from LIV tournaments counting toward the official Order of Merit, Meronk’s status has slipped dramatically.
Sources close to the Tour indicate that Meronk’s DP World Tour membership is now in jeopardy, with his exemption period set to expire at the end of the year. Without sufficient ranking points or special exemptions, he could be formally stripped of his tour card.
A Player at a Crossroads
Despite his success on LIV Golf — including several top-10 finishes and a growing reputation among his peers — Meronk has openly expressed regret over being cut off from traditional pathways such as the Majors and Ryder Cupqualification.
In a recent interview, he admitted:
“I knew there would be consequences, but I didn’t expect to feel this disconnected from the game I grew up in. I miss competing against the best in Europe.”
Uncertain Future
The Polish star’s potential loss of DP World Tour membership would mark another significant fracture in professional golf’s ongoing divide. For Meronk, it may also mean a narrowing of options — with LIV contracts not guaranteeing long-term security if performance drops.
Still, with new pathways to The Masters and The Open Championship opening through Asian Tour events, Meronk could find alternative routes back to the game’s biggest stages.
For now, however, one of Europe’s most promising talents stands at a crossroads — torn between the riches of LIV Golf and the traditions of the tours that made him.
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