There was an exhalation of sorts eight months ago by the people who orchestrate the biggest golf tournaments across the Atlantic Ocean. The start of the war in Iran began on February 28, just two weeks after the DP World Tour finished the last of four consecutive tournaments in the region.
The United Arab Emirates and its transit and economic center of the Middle East, Dubai, was one of the areas attacked, about a month after many of the world’s best golfers competed in the Dubai Desert Classic. Most of them had moved to the United States, or elsewhere in Europe, but many were stuck in place. Due to a flight out of the country, LIV golfers struggled to travel at their next event in early March. Tommy Fleetwoodwho lives in Dubai, has not been able to see his family for more than a month. But in the end, tensions eased and life for many returned to a sense of normality.
But now, as the annual golf calendar, some of the best in the world return to the Middle East. And they find that the disorders still exist.
The Saudi International PIF, for starters, has been postponed from its November 18-21 dates. The Asian Tour event, which has long been an off-season landing spot for LIV golfers, issued a press release Thursdaycalling “organizational and logistical challenges” the reason it could not be held in Riyadh, the Saudi capital that just saw its international airport attacked last week. No future dates have been set to host him on the road.
Those November dates are a week after the DP World Tour’s closing tournament, which routinely takes place at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai. The conversation has taken off in recent weeks as players have raised concerns about traveling through the area. While there was initial speculation that the event might be moved away from the Persian Gulf region, DPWT CEO Guy Kinnings told SkySports that the league intends to host the events as scheduled in the UAE.
“A lot of people ask and it’s an obvious question,” Kinnings told Sky. “The reality is that we look forward to any intention to play in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
“The work has started and we are building things at Yas Links and at Jumeirah Golf Estates, so our intention is to go ahead.
“We obviously need to keep in touch with the travel advisors and other people who are helping us, but our plan is definitely to play the playoffs in the UAE.”
A lot can change in a few weeks, Kinnings knows that. Everyone in the golf world knows it. In many ways, 2026 will be remembered for how pro golf has been affected by this war, even if only in a roundabout way. It was not long after the initial strikes that the Saudi PIF adjusted its future plans, extinguishing its funding for LIV Golf.
The trickle down effect of this continues to this week, where the bankruptcy documents are requested Jon Rahm to be released from his contracts with LIV, and for the Saudis to be released from obligations in any future of the league and its various vendors. The first start he plans to make in his post-LIV life will be back in the Middle East, in Abu Dhabi, in just three weeks.
