Golf's Asian Tour has abandoned the embattled LIV Golf series – which would now appear to be in existential trouble – to realign with the established PGA Tour (US-based) and DP World Tour (Europe-based) properties.
The Asian Tour had been LIV Golf's subsidiary series and second-tier operation since a partnership between the two parties was struck in 2021 – it formed part of the LIV International Series, and was a part of the promotion and relegation element of that Saudi-backed property.
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However, through a formal tie-up with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour unveiled today, the Asian Tour has now moved away from LIV and back into golf's traditional, established, world order, a move which is likely to have serious consequences for LIV Golf.
Specifically, the new agreement will see at least two co-sanctioned events added to the Asian Tour and DP World Tour calendars for the 2027, 2028, and 2029 seasons.
In addition, cards from the Asian Tour Order of Merit will be awarded to the secondary European golf series, the HotelPlanner Tour.
Cho Minn Thant, commissioner and chief executive at the Asian Tour, commented: "Bringing the three tours together under one partnership will increase the bandwidth of the professional game in Asia. Not only will co-sanctioning events see our members competing regularly on the global stage, but we are excited to welcome players from the other Tours to our pinnacle events, which showcase the strength and diversity of golf in Asia.”
The initial tie-up between the DP World Tour and the Asian Tour – a strategic alliance – ran between 2016 and 2021.
Christian Hardy, senior vice president of international for the PGA Tour, commented: "This agreement is another example of what can be accomplished when organizations come together with a shared vision for the future of professional golf."
The DP World Tour and PGA Tour have their own strategic partnership, meanwhile, meaning this new agreement stretches across all three organizations.
In terms of the impact on LIV Golf, meanwhile, it has been reported that scheduled Asian events were set to be a central part of that beleaguered property's appeal to outside investors – significant funding will be needed from next season onwards, to replace the millions that its former Saudi backers will no longer be pouring in.
The promotion and relegation element of the Asian Tour's involvement had also enabled LIV Golf to meet World Golf Ranking criteria for its participants.
For the first five years of its existence, LIV Golf has been primarily funded by the Saudi state's Public Investment Fund; however, as was disclosed in late April, that entity will stop putting money into LIV following the completion of this season.
LIV also unveiled a new board a few months ago, not featuring the PIF governor Yasir al-Rumayyan, and said it would be transitioning "from a foundational launch phase to a diversified, multi-partner investment model."
In terms of LIV's relationship with the other golf tours, the PGA Tour (US) and DP World Tour (Europe) announced in 2023 that they had agreed to a merger with PIF, but despite being locked in negotiations for several years, the tie-up never came to fruition.
This news around LIV specifically comes in the context of Saudi Arabia and PIF setting out a new sports investment strategy, with an increased focus on sustainability.
