DP World Tour chief issues major update on PIF-PGA Tour talks, outlines plan for unified schedule
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Exclusive: Guy Kinnings is hopeful that the DP World Tour, PGA Tour and LIV will have a joined-up schedule in time for 2026.
Like everyone else in golf, Guy Kinnings is tired of waiting around. He has read the reports about a deal between the PIF, PGA Tour, and DP World Tour being done, something he only wishes was true. The reality is that we are still some way off all parties uniting for the good of the game.
As part of an exclusive interview in the next issue of Today’s Golfer magazine (on sale: November 28, 2024), the Chief Executive of the DP World Tour spoke of his frustration at the stop-start nature of the talks despite recent signs of progress. He also refuted suggestions that the DP World Tour has been positioned as a third-wheel in negotiations and admitted that there are steps “which still have to be taken” before they can finalize the details of what a global schedule might look like.
“There have been moments when it seems like we’ve made big steps and then it slows,” Kinnings told TG Features Editor Michael Catling. “I have been a pain in the neck and I am keen for it to get done. But equally, people shouldn’t think it’s through any lack of effort because there are aspects to what has to be done in a business sense, planning for schedules and players. I get a sense that there is growing momentum. I have seen that in meetings and I think there is very clear intent.
“We all recognize that the schedules for 2025 won’t look that different. But by the time we get to 2026, it would be great to think that people can look at it and go, ‘So that’s what we’ve got in store and isn’t that exciting’. I would love to think that things will be clearer by the end of the year, but we can’t control absolutely everything. I don’t want to set any deadlines that we then fail to make.”
As to how the DP World Tour might fit into a new global tour, Kinnings has a few ideas of his own. He favors a model, suggested by Rory McIlroy, that is fully international and in line with the current Formula One calendar and team set-up.
“The key point is we all need to be flexible, to adapt, and remember that the end product needs to appeal to the fans,” said Kinnings. “In my mind, there needs to be big international tournaments in all of this. Just look at our national opens on tour. You can see events growing in Asia, we’ve already built them in the Middle East, and we’ve got great events in the UK. We all know there should be a big event in Australia, and in South Africa and Japan of course, where there is a huge market for golf.
“What that looks like on a whiteboard, I don’t know, but we talk about how important team golf is and I would love to see that included. We would love to see more matchplay events. I think all these things are things people would want to see and if everyone comes together, I believe we have the ability to create something that is really appealing to fans.”
No one would doubt that the DP World Tour are best positioned of the three parties to do that. Their new schedule for 2025 includes at least 42 tournaments in 26 countries, including Australia and South Africa. By comparison, only four PGA Tour events (not including The Open) are set to take place outside of America, which is three fewer than LIV had this year.
By this metric, it’s easy to see who needs to adapt in agreeing to a unified schedule which is ‘truly global’. Trying to convince them to is what may slow down talks even more.
About the author
Michael Catling – Features Editor
Michael Catling is an award-winning journalist who specializes in golf’s Majors and Tours, including DP World, PGA, LPGA, and LIV.
Michael joined Today’s Golfer in 2016 and has traveled the world to attend the game’s biggest events and secure exclusive interviews with the game’s biggest names, including Jack Nicklaus, Jordan Spieth, Tom Watson, Greg Norman, Gary Player, Martin Slumbers and Justin Thomas.
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Guy Kinnings in his office at the European Tour Group HQ.
