DP World Tour dealt blow as LIV stars set for new event

It is being described as the first event in the ‘LIV eco-system’ for 2025.

And intriguingly in golf’s ever-evolving landscape, it will also come as a blow to the DP World Tour.

But there was palpable excitement among Asian Tour officials on Wednesday as they confirmed that the opening event of their $20m International Series will be staged in India for the very first time.

The $2m showpiece – held from January 30-February 2  – will serve as a precursor to LIV’s curtain-raiser in Saudi Arabia the following week and is expected to attract several big names from the breakaway league.

Anirban Lahiri, LIV’s only Indian player, has longed for a LIV-affiliated tournament in his homeland and the whispers are that his Crushers GC teammate Bryson DeChambeau will join him in the field.

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“I am aware that [Lahiri] is going to be involved, and we have had a few talks about it,” DeChambeau said recently. “It will be a very important week for him. I will support him fully, and if everything works out, I am extremely excited about the opportunity to play in India.

“I have never been there, but it’s a country that has fascinated me. I have always loved being a global player and I greatly enjoy playing in as many countries as possible.”

The Asian Tour – also backed by LIV’s Saudi benefactors – will hope that DeChambeau’s interest is shared across the circuit’s other big names to boost the profile of the inaugural tournament.

“It is very, very exciting,” International Series chief Rahul Singh said.

“As the series progresses into its fourth year, to have a partner like DLF come on board and really become the showcase event for the 2025 series… it is not just the first event on the International Series. It is the first event across the entire LIV Golf calendar, which allows for a lot of exciting prospects to be coming and playing on what is a world class golf course.”

The subplot to the deal – confirmed during a roundtable with reporters here at Riyadh Golf Club during the season-ending PIF Saudi International – is that the Asian Tour have arguably pinched India’s premier course.

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The DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurgaon, which this year hosted the Hero Indian Open on the DP World Tour for the fifth time, has committed to staging the event.

The Gary Player-designed layout was one of the most demanding on the circuit, but the DP World Tour are now looking for a new home for one of their national opens in March.

The venue for the 2025 tournament is one of the three listed as “to be confirmed” after the full schedule was released on the Tour’s website.

But sources on the DP World Tour have confirmed they have now lined up a replacement, which will be finalised and announced soon.

Similarities will be made to LIV’s acquisition of Valderrama, the Ryder Cup venue that was the home of the Andalucia Masters but now has a place on the league’s calendar.

Regardless, Aakash Ohri, the managing director of DLF, is certainly excited about the new direction.

“This is a precursor to hopefully bigger things and better relationships with LIV going forward,” he said. “Over the last two decades we’ve had some serious tournaments there, but we’re really looking forward to LIV, the best-in-class and the best players.”

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.