Professional golf is taking another step toward international cooperation with the alliance reached between the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour, and the Asian Tour, a partnership that will see the three organizations co-sanction tournaments across Asia beginning in 2027 and, at a minimum, continuing through 2030. The agreement marks the reunion of three of the world’s leading golf tours after several years shaped by the sport’s fragmentation and opens a new chapter for a region that continues to establish itself as one of the most promising markets for golf’s growth.
The decision also reflects a shift following years of tensions caused by the emergence of LIV Golf, whose arrival reshaped relationships among the world’s leading professional tours. In this context, the new alliance seeks not only to expand competitive golf in Asia, but also to create greater opportunities for players, strengthen the international schedule, and connect different generations of golfers through world-class events.
An alliance that revives a historic partnership and strengthens golf’s presence in Asia
The collaboration between the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour, and the Asian Tour is not starting from scratch. Between 2016 and 2021, the three tours had already worked together before the arrival of LIV Golf disrupted the balance of professional golf and led the Asian circuit to strengthen its ties with the project backed by Saudi Arabia. Now, the new agreement marks the return of a partnership that all parties consider essential to further developing the sport in one of the fastest-growing regions in terms of fan interest, infrastructure, and emerging talent.
Speaking on behalf of the DP World Tour, Director of Tournaments and Operations Ben Cowen said the goal is to reinforce a historic relationship by now bringing the PGA Tour into a broader alliance. Along the same lines, Asian Tour Commissioner and CEO Cho Minn Thant emphasized that the partnership will expand the reach of professional golf across Asia, giving local players greater opportunities to compete at the highest level while welcoming golfers from other tours to the circuit’s premier events, fostering sporting exchange that benefits everyone involved.
The PGA Tour accelerates its global strategy while reshaping the future of the circuit
The announcement comes at a particularly significant moment for professional golf. After several years of unsuccessful negotiations between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to reach a merger, the signing of this agreement represents a sign of stability and collaboration between independent organizations. The news was warmly welcomed by leading figures in the sport, including Rory McIlroy, the world’s No. 2 player, who described the alliance as positive news for the development of international golf and praised the tours for working together once again.
At the same time, the PGA Tour continues to develop a more ambitious expansion strategy. Its Chief Executive Officer, Brian Rolapp, has already presented players with a proposed schedule that could begin to take effect in 2028 and includes expansion into three new markets within the United States. Cities such as Boston, Philadelphia, Denver, Nashville, San Francisco, and Seattle are among the leading candidates to host new tournaments. This expansion aims to strengthen the appeal of the tour, both by retaining its current stars and by attracting players who chose to compete on LIV Golf in recent years, as the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour seek to maintain their leadership position in professional golf.
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