The PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and Asian Tour have formed a new global alliance, intensifying pressure on the rival LIV Golf series. This partnership aims to bolster international golf through enhanced commercial and playing opportunities.
Masters champion Rory McIlroy expressed his support for the collaboration between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and the Asian Tour, which had previously been linked with LIV. "Positive news," McIlroy stated in a social media post. "Great to see the respective tours working together for the good of international golf."
The PGA Tour and DP World Tour have extended their existing strategic alliance until at least 2029. Discussions regarding this extension had been underway in recent months, with the prior agreement potentially expiring next year.
The Asian Tour had initially partnered with LIV Golf in 2021, before the breakaway league's launch in 2022. This arrangement included a promotion and relegation system that offered pathways to and from LIV's lucrative tournaments. Under that previous agreement, the top two players from the Asian Tour's order of merit were set to earn promotion to LIV for its 2026 season.
The Asian Tour's Saudi-funded International Series also provided significant playing opportunities for top golfers who had faced bans from the PGA Tour. These events drew criticism for being staged in Europe, encroaching on traditional DP World Tour territory.
Effective immediately, the PGA and DP World Tours will collaborate with the Asian Tour through their established alliance to offer commercial and playing opportunities. Furthermore, leading Asian golfers will gain access to playing rights on the DP World Tour starting from the 2027 season. Certain tournaments will also revert to being co-sanctioned by the DP World and Asian Tours, a practice that predated the Asian Tour's alliance with LIV.