The Asian professional golf circuit has made the strategic decision to discontinue its qualifying school for the upcoming 2027 season, embarking on what it terms a “rebuilding year.” This significant shift comes on the heels of the termination of its International Series, a venture previously funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. The cessation of this partnership has substantially altered the tour’s operational landscape, affecting both its schedule and the competitive avenues available to its members, particularly those who earned their tour cards in prior seasons.
The announcement, made earlier this week, highlights the challenges faced by the tour after the withdrawal of funding for the International Series. This series, which was established in 2022 as a collaboration with LIV Golf, offered substantial prize money and served as a pathway for players to potentially join the LIV Golf circuit. Its discontinuation necessitated a reevaluation of the Asian Tour’s long-term strategy and immediate future.
In response to these developments, Asian Tour CEO Cho Minn Thant revealed that discussions for a five-year extension with LIV Golf were underway when the Public Investment Fund unexpectedly withdrew its financial support, including a planned $300 million investment, in April of this year. Thant noted that this change in investment strategy by the PIF came as a surprise to many within the golf world, prompting the Asian Tour to seek new partnerships.
Consequently, the Asian Tour has pivoted its strategy, forming new collaborations with the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour. As part of these new agreements, the Asian Tour will co-sanction five events with the DP World Tour in the coming year, including prominent tournaments like the Hong Kong Open and the Singapore Open. These joint ventures are expected to provide enhanced opportunities for approximately 60 Asian Tour members. Additionally, the leading money winner on the Asian Tour will now secure a DP World Tour card, and any victor in a co-sanctioned event will also gain DP World Tour status, fostering greater integration and pathways for players.
The 2026 Asian Tour calendar initially planned for 21 tournaments, with eight designated as International Series events. However, the unexpected changes led to the cancellation of several fall tournaments in India and China, and a reduction in prize funds for events such as the Hong Kong Open and the Philippine Open. Despite these adjustments, the PIF Saudi International is still slated to be the season's final event, scheduled for mid-November.
The tour acknowledged the difficulty of canceling the qualifying school, emphasizing its crucial role in providing player pathways. However, the decision was deemed necessary as the organization focuses on stabilizing and growing its main tour and Asian Development Tour schedules for the 2027 season. Players who had already registered for the canceled qualifying school will receive full refunds, and the tour anticipates that the qualifying school in the following year will offer significant opportunities for players aiming to compete in the 2028 season.
