EXCLUSIVE: LIV Golf dealt huge blow as DP World Tour signs major deal

The DP World Tour has agreed a three-year contract extension to co-sanction the Australian Open with the PGA Tour of Australasia until at least 2029, dealing a significant blow to LIV Golf, which had identified the tournament as a top target. Rory McIlroy is set to compete at Kingston Heath in December for this year's edition, with prize money remaining at AU$2 million but expected to rise under the new deal. The move is part of a broader battle over historic national open events as LIV Golf shifts its strategy from signing elite players to securing major tournaments.