Masters champion Rory McIlroy expressed approval of the recent collaboration between the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour and the Asian Tour, which previously had ties to the LIV circuit.
LIV Golf, which has its next tournament starting at the JCB Club in Staffordshire on Thursday, is currently facing a reduction in financial support from Saudi Arabia. The kingdom had contributed more than 3.75 billion pounds to fund its operations in the initial three years.
The officialization of this new partnership, involving the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour and the Asian Tour, took place during meetings last week, while the Open Championship was taking place at Royal Birkdale.
In a post on social media, McIlroy called the news “positive”, noting that it was “great to see the respective tours working together for the good of international golf.”
A strategic alliance already existed between the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour, and this agreement will now be extended, with validity established until at least 2029. Negotiations on the extension, before a possible termination next year, had been ongoing for months.
The Asian Tour had sealed a cooperation agreement with LIV Golf in 2021, ahead of the launch of the independent league the following year. This collaboration allowed a system of access and descent to LIV tournaments, which featured prizes of 30 million dollars.
Under the old agreement, the two best golfers in the Asian Tour rankings guaranteed entry to the LIV circuit for the 2026 season.
The Asian Tour’s International Series, which received funding from Saudi Arabia, also created very lucrative playing opportunities for LIV’s top stars who had been barred from the PGA Tour.
These events generated controversy, as some of them were based in Europe, entering a region that was historically considered DP World Tour territory.
Effective immediately, the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, through their already established strategic alliance, will formalize a partnership with the Asian Tour. The objective is to provide new commercial opportunities and participation in championships.
Additionally, new pathways will be created for Asia’s outstanding golfers, giving them the right to compete in the 2027 DP World Tour season.
Some specific tournaments will return to the co-hosting format between the DP World Tour and Asian Tour circuits, a practice that was common before the Asian Tour’s association with LIV Golf.
This move represents a significant setback for Scott O’Neil, who took over as CEO of LIV Golf in January 2025. He is looking for a financial contribution of 350 million dollars to sustain the operation of the circuit, which brings together big names such as Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau.
O’Neil had mapped out a series of open national tournaments around the world to integrate a new calendar, and the Asian Tour stages were considered crucial to the realization of this plan.
Cho Minn Thant, CEO of the Asian Tour, said: “We believe now is the right time to collaborate with the DP World Tour and PGA Tour to enhance the Asian Tour for our members, fans and partners.”
He added that “Uniting the three circuits into a single partnership will increase the reach of professional golf in Asia.”
Thant added, “Not only will co-hosting events allow our members to compete regularly on the global stage, but we are also excited to welcome players from other circuits to our main events.”
Ben Cowen, director of tournaments and operations at the DP World Tour, called the recent move “a hugely positive step for golf in Asia, but also an exciting new era of collaboration for our sport on a global level.”
Christian Hardy, head of international affairs for the PGA Tour, said: “This agreement is yet another example of what can be achieved when organizations come together with a shared vision for the future of professional golf.”
Hardy concluded his speech by stating, “We are very excited to welcome the Asian Tour to this effort.”
