The PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Asian Tour have established a multi-year partnership extending their existing alliance through at least 2029. The agreement was confirmed during meetings at the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. Rory McIlroy described the development as positive for international golf.
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The alliance counters Saudi sportswashing via LIV after £3.75bn in investment and the 2021 Asian Tour deal.
“Institutional resistance to authoritarian financial influence and power concentration in sport”
The partnership defends traditional governance and merit-based structures against Saudi-funded disruption of established tours.
“Preservation of Western-led institutions and competitive integrity over external subsidies”
The alliance operates as a cartel restricting player options and free contracting with higher-purse alternatives such as LIV.
“Individual liberty and market entry versus incumbent gatekeeping of schedules and revenue”
All three views accept the tours' stated defensive motives without examining their own history of restricting player earnings and access or the PGA's earlier Saudi merger talks.
“Power asymmetry within the new partnership and unaddressed effects on mid-tier players”
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