LIV Golf Faces Setback As PGA Tour Links Up With Asian Tour

PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Asian Tour Seal Three‑Way Alliance

The PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Asian Tour have announced a strategic partnership that will run through 2029, giving Asian Tour members new commercial prospects and a clearer route to European circuits. Under the deal, the three tours will co‑sanction events and share playing opportunities, aiming to boost the global footprint of professional golf in Asia. Commissioner Cho Minn Thant called the collaboration “the right time to enhance the Asian Tour for our members, fans and partners,” noting that co‑sanctioned events will place Asian players on the world stage more regularly. Christian Hardy, the PGA Tour’s senior vice president of international, added that the alliance reflects a shared vision for the sport’s future and will help identify the next generation of elite talent.

How the Deal Impacts LIV Golf’s Asian Presence

LIV Golf’s long‑standing relationship with the Asian Tour has been undermined by the new three‑way agreement. The Saudi‑backed league invested $300 million to launch the International Series, which offers purses up to $2 million and has been won by Peter Uihlein, Carlos Ortiz and David Puig. The Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, LIV’s primary financial backer, announced it will cease funding after this season, leaving LIV CEO Scott O’Neil scrambling for investors to keep the circuit alive beyond 2026. The loss of the Asian Tour partnership removes a key source of revenue and competitive opportunities for LIV’s players.

Technology Dispute Adds Legal Pressure

LIV Golf now faces a lawsuit from Canadian‑based Mobii Systems Group alleging unpaid fees of $925,100 for the “Any Shot, Any Time” broadcast technology. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Miami, also claims $209,531 in lost revenue for the six remaining 2026 events. In a May 25 email, LIV’s senior vice president of technology, Nick Connor, told Mobii that the league would stop using the system after the South Korea event concluded on May 31 while evaluating its business model. The legal challenge adds another hurdle to LIV’s efforts to secure new investors and maintain operations for the 2027 season.

Expanded Access and Future Tour Events

The new alliance is expected to bring at least two co‑sanctioned Asian Tour events each year for the next three years, reviving a practice last seen when the European tour partnered with the Asian Tour from 2016 to 2021. Details are still being worked out, but Asian Tour players will likely gain access to European and Challenge Tour competitions. The European tour halted its co‑sanctioning in 2022, making this renewed collaboration a significant shift in the regional golf landscape.

Broader Golf Landscape Moves

Beyond the Asian Tour, the PGA Tour announced a commercial partnership with the European tour that includes the Australian Open, the fifth‑oldest championship in golf. The PGA Tour’s involvement marks a push to elevate national opens, following the Masters’ decision to extend invitations to winners of six national events. These moves illustrate how major tours are aligning to strengthen pathways for players and increase global visibility for the sport.