SerpApi.Org
Rory McIlroy has thrown his support behind the news that the Asian Tour has ditched LIV Golf in favor of a partnership with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour.
The Asian Tour has long been a vital cog in LIV's machine, acting as a feeder tour that proved instrumental in securing Official World Golf Ranking accreditation. More critically, it was expected to be a cornerstone of the breakaway league's long-term survival strategy.
LIV's future is now teetering on a knife's edge after Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund confirmed it will pull its funding when the season wraps up in late August. With the league needing approximately $300 million in investment just to keep the lights on, its ties with the Asian Tour were a major selling point to potential backers. It comes as McIlroy makes feelings clear on Bryson DeChambeau playing Irish Open in front of Trump.
• Shane Lowry's wife wastes no time reacting to Open Championship winner
• Conor McGregor loses $3.6M after stupidly listening to World Cup 'time traveler'
LIV had been pitching a schedule built around a core series of roughly 10 events, bolstered by Asian Tour fixtures and its International Series to offer players a full competitive calendar.
However, with the Asian circuit now aligning itself with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, LIV's already uphill battle to secure the necessary funding has become even steeper. The deal, struck at The Open Championship last week, reportedly blindsided LIV completely, reports the Mirror US.
While the league has stayed tight-lipped on the development, longtime critic McIlroy wasted no time celebrating the news on social media: "Positive news, and great to see the respective tours working together for the good of international golf."
The tours announced that the agreement will establish pathways for Asian Tour players to advance to the DP World Tour and PGA Tour. Beginning next year, certain Asian Tour events will receive co-sanctioning from the DP World Tour.
This revives a partnership between the Asian and European circuits that existed from 2016-21.
Asian Tour commissioner and CEO Cho Minn Thant explained to Golf Digest that ending its relationship with LIV Golf made sense given the uncertainty surrounding the league's future.
"I think the timing is just right now, it's all about timing," he said. "We'd kept in touch [with the DP World Tour] over all these years. Six years ago, it was right for us to do a partnership with LIV Golf, but given the circumstances now, we've had to look at other options."
Christian Hardy, Senior Vice President of International at the PGA Tour, stated in a press release: "This agreement is another example of what can be accomplished when organizations 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."
