The PGA Tour is looking to significantly weaken LIV Golf by signing a new multi-year agreement with the Asian Tour, which has had a significant financial and competitive partnership with LIV since the league’s inception in 2022.
The PGA Tour and DP World Tour, which have a strategic alliance, will partner with the Asian Tour in a deal that runs through at least 2029, establishing a path for leading members of the Asian Tour to earn DP World Tour status starting next season. The DP World Tour co-sanctions some tournaments with the Asian Tour.
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From 2016 to 2021, the Asian Tour had a strategic partnership with the DP World Tour. However, ahead of its first season in 2022, LIV has pledged to invest $300 million in the Asian Tour over the next 10 years. This helped create the International Series, a series of marquee events on the Asian Tour with $2 million in prize money that provides a path for players to earn a spot on the LIV. The International Series also allowed LIV members to earn Official World Golf Ranking points before the league began receiving ranking points this year.
There are no changes to this year’s remaining five International Series events, a person familiar with the situation said. front office spot. However, the Asian Tour is not expected to renew its contract with LIV after this season ends with the PIF Saudi International Tournament in November.
“We feel the time is right to work with the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour to strengthen the Asian Tour for our members, fans and partners,” Asian Tour Commissioner and CEO Cho Min Thant said in a statement Tuesday morning, without specifically mentioning the International Series.
“Bringing the three tours together under one partnership will expand the scope of the professional game in Asia,” Thant said. “With our sponsored events, we look forward to not only allowing our members to compete regularly on the world stage, but also welcoming players from other tours to a premier event that showcases the strength and diversity of golf in Asia.”
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Mr. Thant led the negotiations for the Asian tour. In the case of the DP World Tour, these were CEO Guy Kinnings and Tournament and Operations Director Ben Cowen. On the PGA Tour side, negotiations were led by International SVP Christian Hardy and Chief Commercial Officer Dhruv Prasad.
“Together, we are creating new opportunities for players, strengthening major National Opens around the world, and continuing to evolve and strengthen our pathway to discovering and developing the next generation of elite talent,” Hardy said in a statement.
LIV is also prioritizing ways to work with some of these tournaments in 2027 and beyond, so additional efforts regarding the National Open are worth noting. This year, the Masters and British Open Championships began awarding spots to the winners of six select National Opens. Tom McKibbin was the first LIV player to earn his way to Augusta National by winning the 2025 Hong Kong Open, an International Series event.
“By strengthening our cooperation and collaboration, our two organizations can better support our players, strengthen our major tournaments, including regional National Opens such as the Hong Kong Open, and create greater opportunities across the world of golf,” a PGA Tour spokesperson said in a statement. Foss.
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Other candidates for an international series that could attract bigger investments include tournaments such as the Singapore Open and the Philippine Open, sources said. Foss.
The article PGA Tour undercuts LIV Golf with Asian Tour deal appeared first on Front Office Sports.
