The PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and Asian Tour announced a new multi-year strategic alliance on July 21 during the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, extending through at least 2029 [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]. This partnership ends the Asian Tour’s relationship with LIV Golf, with which it had partnered since 2021 [3, 4, 7].
Under the new alliance, the DP World Tour will resume co-sanctioning at least two Asian Tour events annually starting in 2027 and for the next three years [1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7]. It will also provide pathways for leading Asian Tour players to join the DP World Tour or its feeder circuits beginning the same year [1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7].
The Asian Tour previously worked with LIV Golf, which invested about $300 million to launch the International Series featuring purses up to $2 million from 2021 [2, 3, 5, 6, 7]. LIV Golf, backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, began competing as a rival tour in 2022 but now faces financial uncertainty after the fund withdrew support following more than £3.75 billion in investments over three years [3, 7].
Asian Tour Commissioner Cho Minn Thant said, "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 [2]." He also noted that "We feel the time is now right to collaborate with the DP World Tour and PGA Tour to enhance the Asian Tour for our members, fans and partners [7]."
Ben Cowen, Chief Tournament and Operations Officer of the DP World Tour, added, "We are delighted to rekindle our historic relationship with the Asian Tour and indeed strengthen it with the addition of the PGA Tour to our new partnership. As golf’s Global Tour, we bring together the best international talent and the formal pathways established by this partnership will provide unprecedented international opportunities for Asian Tour members [2]."
Christian Hardy, PGA Tour Senior Vice-President of International, said, "Through our Strategic Alliance with the DP World Tour, we have worked to build a more connected global golf ecosystem, and we are excited to welcome the Asian Tour into that effort. Together, we are creating new opportunities for players, enhancing key National Opens around the world and continuing to evolve and strengthen pathways to identify and develop the best international talent [2]."
Masters champion Rory McIlroy described the alliance as "Positive news. Great to see the respective tours working together for the good of international golf [3]."
The alliance builds on the existing PGA-DP World Tour partnership and signals a new era of collaboration for the sport worldwide [1, 3, 7]. Starting in 2027, Asian Tour players will have more direct access to global competitions, and DP World Tour co-sanctioned events will raise the profile of golf tournaments in Asia [1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7].
