DP World Tour chief changes mind on retirement to join Tour with OWGR points

Former DP World Tour chief operating officer and Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) board member Keith Waters has changed his mind on retirement to become chairman and commissioner of the lower-tier MENA Golf Tour.

Waters, 67, stepped down from his lead position at the DP World Tour after The Open at Royal Portrush last month.

Having joined the European Tour Group in 1995, Waters is the group's longest serving executive.

Prior to that Waters competed as a player for nearly 17 years.

Waters' distinguished career has encompassed several areas of the European Tour’s business including commercial relationships with promoters, federations, venues, regions and sponsors; player relations and helping to shape the Tour’s rules and regulations.

His initial role was as Director of International Policy before becoming the Tour’s Chief Operating Officer in 2007.

In addition to being part of the OWGR technical committee, Waters is also a representative for the International Federations of PGA Tours on the OWGR Governing Board.

But after confirming his retirement from the European Tour Group last month, Waters has had an immediate change of heart.

Waters has now put pen to paper on a new deal with the MENA Golf Tour as its chairman and commissioner.

"I was anticipating a quiet life with my family but this opportunity to relaunch this Tour in a part of the world I know well and enjoy working and visiting was too good to pass up," wrote Waters on LinkedIn.

The MENA Golf Tour was first established in 2011 and it remains the only OWGR-recognised circuit headquartered in the Middle East.

In October 2022, the MENA Tour entered into a strategic alliance with LIV Golf.

The arrangement was conceived with the intent of immediately getting LIV Golf onto the OWGR.

Only that plan backfired and MENA Golf Tour's alliance with LIV Golf ended the following season. 

The MENA Golf Tour then went into a two-year hiatus. 

DP World Tour chief joins relaunched MENA Golf Tour 

But the MENA Golf Tour is relaunching this autumn, on its own this time and with Waters at the helm.

The new 2025/26 schedule will feature 12 tournaments with the first event taking place in Portugal.

The MENA Golf Tour provides opportunities for professional golfers looking to make their mark from the region and around the globe.

Two-time PGA Tour winner Robert MacIntyre came through the MENA Golf Tour during his early days as a golfer.

"The MENA Golf Tour opened doors, taught me how to win, and prepared me for the challenges of the DP World Tour and PGA Tour," said MacIntyre, who has qualified for his second consecutive Ryder Cup team next month.

"I’m excited to see it return and give the next generation of players the same opportunities I had."

The relaunched MENA Golf Tour remains part of the OWGR this season, despite all of its tournaments being contested over 54 holes.

As it stands, the LIV Golf League - which has all of its tournaments also staged over 54 holes featuring many of the world's best players such as Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau - remains shut out the OWGR.

Unlike on LIV Golf though, there is a 36-hole cut to the top 60 players during MENA Golf Tour events.

Winners of MENA tournaments take home $18,000, unlike the $4m for winners on LIV Golf.

The total prize purses at MENA Golf Tour events is $100,000.

"I’m delighted to be involved in the relaunch of the MENA Golf Tour," said Waters.

"This Tour has tremendous potential and serves as a crucial pathway for golfers, not just from the Middle East, but internationally."

The first MENA Golf Tour event in Portugal will follow a Qualifying School in November that is designed specifically for non-exempt players.

Additionally, the MENA Golf Tour is currently in discussions with both the DP World Tour and the HotelPlanner.com Tour to establish a clear development pathway, with the ambition to provide the leading MENA Golf Tour players with the opportunity to advance directly to the DP World Tour Qualifying School and the HotelPlanner Tour.

For more information or to register your interest in the MENA Golf Tour please visit www.menagolftour.com