LIV Golf's former feeder tour postpones $5m season finale

The Asian Tour has confirmed that its season-ending season finale in Saudi Arabia has been postponed due to rising tensions in the region. 

The $5m event was set to bring the curtain down on the 2025/2026 Asian Tour season but doubts had been cast that it was going to happen after a serious escalation of missile and drone attacks from Yemen's Houthi movement. 

On October 10, at least 13 people were killed and 300 were injured in a strike on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport

A day later, one more person was killed and more than a dozen were injured in a follow-up attack. 

BBC News reported on Thursday that the Iran-backed group warned there will be further strikes in the coming days. 

Tournament officials have now confirmed that the finale, due to take place over 18-21 November at Riyadh Golf Club, has been postponed. 

A spokesperson for the Asian Tour said: "Golf Saudi and the Asian Tour have announced the postponement of the PIF Saudi International, originally scheduled to take place at Riyadh Golf Club from 18-21 November 2026, following an assessment of the organisational and logistical challenges associated with hosting the tournament, to ensure the event is delivered to a standard befitting of its international stature and meets the expectations of players and fans. 

"The Asian Tour remains in direct contact with its players and members regarding the schedule and next steps.

"Golf Saudi thanks players, partners and fans for their understanding. Further details will be announced in due course."

The Asian Tour has already been forced to cancel two tournaments this season following Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund's decision to withdraw financial support from LIV Golf, with International Series events in China and India scrapped from the schedule.

The Asian Tour responded to the PIF's decision to step away from supporting LIV by striking a multi-year agreement with the PGA and DP World Tour. 

The deal was struck following talks between tour bosses in July at The Open. 

The deal established playing pathways for leading Asian Tour members to the DP World Tour and its developmental HotelPlanner Tour, while reintroducing co-sanctioned events from 2027.

Elsewhere, the DP World Tour is continuing to plan for its season-ending play-offs in the United Arab Emirates next month, despite growing concerns over player safety amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

The Abu Dhabi Championship is scheduled to take place at Yas Links from November 5-8, followed by the $10m DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai the following week. 

However, the Tour has drawn scrutiny over its handling of the situation, with defending champion Matthew Fitzpatrick expressing reservations about travelling to the region and criticising the lack of clarity over whether the events would proceed as planned.

Rory McIlroy says he has no issue travelling to the Middle East. 

The Tour has maintained that it intends to stage both tournaments in the UAE while monitoring the security situation and consulting international travel advisers.

Contingency plans have nevertheless been developed, with Spain's Real Club de Golf Sotogrande identified as a potential alternative venue for the Dubai finale if conditions deteriorate