Home / Sports / Asian Tour Rejects LIV Golf for Major European Alliance
Asian Tour Rejects LIV Golf for Major European Alliance
18 Sep
Summary
- Asian Tour CEO cited an abrupt LIV Golf funding uncertainty as the trigger.
- The tour secretly negotiated with PGA and DP World Tours since April.
- The new alliance offers Asian Tour members more direct European circuit cards.
The Asian Tour's decision to partner with the DP World Tour, abandoning renewal talks with LIV Golf, stemmed from abrupt funding uncertainties. Asian Tour CEO Cho Minn Thant revealed that just after the Masters, news of LIV Golf's financial situation created confusion regarding its impact on the International Series. This prompted the tour to secretly engage with the PGA and DP World Tours starting in April.
The culmination of these discussions occurred at the Open Championship, resulting in a multi-year alliance through 2029. This partnership was concealed from LIV Golf until July 21, 2026. The agreement includes co-sanctioning five events, such as the Hong Kong and Singapore Opens, with split fields.
This new alliance offers significant benefits to Asian Tour players, including direct qualification routes to the European circuit. However, the tour acknowledges that this arrangement does not fully address the needs of medium- and low-level members who relied on the International Series.
