DP World Tour, PGA Tour & LIV merger patience needed, says Kinnings as 2025 schedule announced

Chief executive Guy Kinnings says the DP World Tour hopes “to have a different schedule in 2026” after unveiling a 2025 calendar which largely mirrors this season.

But Kinnings warned patience will continue to be key as golf’s power brokers look for a solution which would end the so-called civil war in the men’s professional game.

The European-based DP World Tour and PGA Tour in the United States are involved in protracted negotiations with the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), which runs the breakaway LIV Tour, about a merger.

A proposed deal to end the divisive split was first unveiled in June 2023.

“I understand that impatience and we have to be mindful of our fans, who have been brilliant,” Kinnings told BBC golf correspondent Iain Carter.

“Golf is in such good health but we have to work on this product. It is complicated, not as easy as everyone thinks.

“There are transactional elements, scheduling elements, but all the parties you would want are engaged with right mindset and working towards it.

“Everyone is mindful of how important it is to get it done.”

Players on the DP World Tour will receive record prize money of £120m ($153m) over the 2025 season – excluding the cash offered by the four majors.

Kinnings said a minimum of 42 tournaments will be held across 26 different countries, with the Nedbank Golf Challenge, Austrian Open and Turkish Open returning.