The Asian Tour has officially ended its partnership with LIV Golf and is reconnecting with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour. The three organizations announced the realignment on Tuesday, marking a significant shift in the global golf landscape. This move leaves LIV Golf without a key ally that had supported its events since before its first tournament in 2022.
For years, the Asian Tour operated within LIV’s ecosystem, receiving funding from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) for both LIV and Asian Tour-sanctioned International Series events. In exchange, the Asian Tour provided a platform for LIV stars to appear at its tournaments. With that financial support now gone, the Asian Tour leadership determined that a new direction was necessary.
Cho Minn Thant, the Asian Tour’s CEO, explained the decision in a statement to Golf Digest. He noted that while the partnership with LIV was appropriate six years ago, current circumstances required looking at other options. Thant added that collaborating with the PGA and DP World Tours will enhance the professional game in Asia by increasing opportunities for members to compete on a global stage.
The new alignment includes specific structural changes. The Asian Tour and DP World Tour plan to co-sanction multiple events for the 2027, 2028, and 2029 seasons. The exact tournaments have not yet been identified and are expected to be revealed this fall when the DP World Tour releases its 2027 schedule.
The agreement also establishes clear pathways for player advancement. Top Asian Tour players can earn cards for the DP World Tour or its secondary circuit, the HotelPlanner Tour, based on their Order of Merit standings. Players who reach the DP World Tour then have a direct route to the PGA Tour.
This creates a formal hierarchy that gives Asian Tour competitors access to the sport’s highest levels.
The decision impacts LIV Golf’s future plans. Commissioner Scott O’Neil had previously outlined a vision for LIV 2.0 that relied on a network of national opens owned by the Asian Tour. The league must now find alternative methods for the promotion and relegation system it promised to secure World Ranking points.
