Rory McIlroy has described the new strategic link between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Asian Tour as “positive news” after the partnership was announced yesterday.
The deal involving the three tours will see at least two new tournaments co-sanctioned between the DP World Tour and Asian Tour over the next three seasons while the top Asian Tour players will be afforded opportunities to earn DP World Tour and HotelPlanner Tour cards.
The news sees the Asian Tour return to its previous lineage with the PGA Tour having broken way in 2022 to become the feeder tour to LIV Golf but due to the uncertain future of the Saudi backed tour, Asian Tour chief executive, Cho Min Thant, believes this deal is what is best for his players.
McIlroy, who has previously said that he would like to see a world tour, endorsed the news and wrote on social media platform X: “Positive news, and great to see the respective tours working together for the good of international golf.”
The DP World Tour and Asian Tour previously had a Strategic Alliance from 2016 to 2021. That formalised a relationship which originally began in February 1999 when the Malaysian Open became the first tournament to be co-sanctioned by the two tours.
In total, 108 tournaments have been co-sanctioned, with a further 21 events tri-sanctioned with either the Sunshine Tour or PGA Tour of Australasia.
Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner and CEO of the Asian Tour, said: “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. 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, which showcase the strength and diversity of golf in Asia.”
Ben Cowen, Chief Tournament and Operations Officer for the DP World Tour, said: “We are delighted to rekindle our historic relationship with the Asian Tour and indeed strengthen it with the addition of the PGA TOUR to our new partnership.
“As Golf’s Global Tour, we bring together the best international talent and the formal pathways established by this partnership will provide unprecedented international opportunities for Asian Tour members. Our agreement therefore represents not only a hugely positive step for golf in Asia, but also an exciting new era of collaboration for our game globally.”
Christian Hardy, Senior Vice President of International at the PGA TOUR, said: “This agreement is another example of what can be accomplished when organisations come together with a shared vision for the future of professional golf.
“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. 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.”
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