The landscape of global professional golf shifted dramatically on Tuesday, as the PGA Tour, DP World Tour (the commercial brand of the European Tour) and Asian Tour unveiled a new multi-year strategic alliance that immediately casts fresh uncertainty over the future of Saudi-backed rival LIV Golf. The partnership, which took effect immediately and runs through 2029, marks a significant realignment of the sport’s governing structure, and directly disrupts the business ties the Asian Tour has maintained with LIV since the breakaway league launched in 2022.
Under the terms of the new alliance, the PGA Tour and DP World Tour will work alongside the Asian Tour to expand commercial opportunities and playing pathways for golfers across the region. A core component of the deal restores the co-sanctioning relationship between the European circuit and Asian Tour that was halted in 2022 – the partnership will see at least two co-hosted events held annually over the next three years, with additional provisions being finalized to grant Asian Tour players access to DP World Tour and Challenge Tour competitions, and create a clear progression route for top Asian players to compete on global elite circuits. This three-tour partnership also builds on the existing alliance between the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, which has been in negotiation for a renewed long-term deal, and follows the PGA Tour’s recent expanded involvement with the Australian Open as the sport moves to elevate leading national open championships.
Industry observers have widely framed the announcement as a major setback for LIV Golf, which poured $300 million into the Asian Tour in 2021 to launch its International Series – a slate of events offering purses up to $2 million that have been dominated by LIV contracted players including Peter Uihlein, Carlos Ortiz and David Puig. The new alliance pulls the Asian Tour back into the fold of the established global golf structure, ending the independent partnership that LIV has relied on to expand its footprint in Asia.
Tuesday’s news is just the latest in a string of challenges for the breakaway league. Just one day prior, reports emerged that Canadian tech firm Mobii Systems Group has filed a $925,100 breach of contract lawsuit against LIV at the U.S. District Court in Miami. The company, which provided LIV’s signature “Any Shot, Any Time” broadcast technology, alleges the league has failed to pay outstanding service fees, and is also seeking $209,531 in lost revenue for the remaining six events on LIV’s 2026 schedule. Court documents include a May 25 email from LIV Golf Senior Vice President of Technology Nick Connor, which confirmed the league would discontinue use of Mobii’s technology after the May 31 South Korea event, as it undertakes a broad review of its operating model amid financial uncertainty.
That financial uncertainty stems from a recent announcement from the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, LIV’s primary financial backer, which confirmed it will end funding for the league after the 2026 season. LIV CEO Scott O’Neil has since been engaged in an ongoing search for new external investors to keep the league operational through 2027 and beyond.
Leaders of the three allied tours have framed the new partnership as a unifying step for the future of global professional golf. Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner and CEO of the Asian Tour, emphasized the benefits of the alignment for the region’s golf ecosystem. “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,” he 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.”
Christian Hardy, Senior Vice President of International for the PGA Tour, echoed that sentiment, noting the alliance represents a shared commitment to growing the sport. “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,” Hardy said. “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 next generation of elite talent.”