PIF also sponsors one of the events on the Asian Tour, which with a US$5 million purse is the richest on the circuit.
Brooks Koepka lines up a putt during the third round of the PIF Saudi International on February 4, 2023. Photo: Asian Tour.
That link has seen the likes of Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Sergio Garcia all play Asian Tour events this year, raising the profile of tournaments across the region.
There is also the direct pathway to the LIV Golf League that has emerged as part of the relationship, with the winner of the series order of merit earning a spot on the Saudi-backed circuit, and the remaining players in the top 32 getting a shot at one of three other spots expected to be up for grabs this season.
While LIV executives have been busy telling anyone who will listen that it is business as usual, the PGA Tour CEO Jay Monahan has been painting a different picture and what the deal means in reality has yet to be firmly established.
“The Asian Tour has done enough over the last two years to have a proper seat at the table and not just be passengers,” Cho told The Sydney Morning Herald.
“We’re pretty confident we’re going to be relevant and have a seat at the table in these conversations. It would be a great shame if all the top players went back to playing in America.”
According to Sports Illustrated, Greg Norman, the LIV Golf CEO, told staff that the team concept was “not going anywhere” and it was business as usual for the foreseeable future.
“What LIV has done is brought world-class players around the world,” Cho said. “It was massive in Adelaide, it was very big in Singapore and I’m sure it would be very big in other places like Hong Kong, Japan and Korea.
“We’re going to have to make sure international golf remains on the agenda and it doesn’t revert back to the way it was.”
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News.
