Saudi Arabia’s showpiece golf week is off. Golf Saudi and the Asian Tour confirmed on Thursday that the PIF Saudi International, due to be played at Riyadh Golf Club from 18 to 21 November, will not go ahead as planned. No alternative date has been given.
Cho Minn Thant, the Asian Tour’s commissioner and chief executive, said the decision followed a review of the “organisational and logistical challenges” of staging the event.
“The PIF Saudi International is one of the most important events on the Asian Tour calendar and we look forward to seeing our players compete in Riyadh in the future,” he said.
The tournament is the finale of the Asian Tour’s International Series and carries a $5m purse, the richest on this year’s calendar. It is also the circuit’s gateway to LIV Golf: three promotion places on the breakaway league are decided by the final rankings.
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A week of withdrawals from Riyadh
On Tuesday, organisers of the Six Kings Slam tennis exhibition pushed the tournament from its 21-24 October slot to 27-30 December. The Netflix-broadcast event, featuring Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, had been set for the ANB Arena in Riyadh.
Riyadh Season said the move reflected its “commitment to delivering sporting events to the highest standards, following an assessment of the organisational and logistical challenges associated with hosting the tournament.”
Saudi Pro League fixtures involving the Riyadh and Jeddah clubs were also moved earlier in the week.
The attack behind the shutdowns
The postponements all trace back to a Houthi missile and drone strike on King Khalid International Airport on 10 October, as reported by Al Jazeera. The Yemen-based group’s media office said it had “shut down Riyadh international airport.” The Houthis have warned of further strikes against airports and oil installations in the kingdom.
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Riyadh Golf Club was due to host the Saudi International for the first time after five editions at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City. The event is funded by the Public Investment Fund, the same sovereign wealth fund that bankrolls LIV Golf and the backbone of Saudi Arabia’s wider push into global sport.
Golf Saudi and the Asian Tour said further announcements on the 2026 season and the 2027 schedule would follow.
