Guy Kinnings DP World Tour & Ryder Cup CEO: From the Genius of McIlroy to why LIV is an Opportunity!

Today we’re joined by Guy Kinnings, CEO of the DP World Tour and Ryder Cup Europe, in our first exploration of golf’s business and politics. With Rory McIlroy kicking off the season in style and the Ryder Cup heading to New York in September, it’s a massive year for the sport.

We dive into the impact of LIV Golf and the pressure it's put on the DP World and PGA Tours to retain talent. But as Guy explains, it’s also a huge opportunity — a moment to reshape and elevate the global game.

From player dynamics to delivering a Ryder Cup win on US soil, we go behind the scenes of one of the most iconic events in sport and the organisation shaping golf’s future.

On today’s show we discuss:

1. What is the DP World Tour:

There are many tours and competitions taking place around the world. What is the DP World Tour responsible for?

Who gets to play on the Tour? How the reference to ‘European’ is a misnomer; this is a sporting organisation with global reach.

The finances associated with golf. From major sponsorship and broadcast deals to the cost of creating elite sporting events.

With many of the key European players going and playing their golf on the PGA Tour in America, how do they retain value and participation at the top of the DP Tour?

What does the strategic alliance with the PGA Tour look like and how have they been impacted by the arrival of LIV Golf?

2. Athletes as Icons:

Golf has produced some of sport’s most famous names; the rise of Jack Nicklas, Arnold Palmer, Tiger Woods and now Rory McIlroy.

The Rory McIlory effect: from completing the grand slam winning the Masters to driving the European game forward, how important is individual stardom in the sport?

How the commercial value of talent can drive a tournament forward or undermine its credibility.

Where do the opportunities lie for golfers to really write their name in the history books: a Ryder Cup special!

If golfers were on the stock market, which player would Guy invest in?

3. The Future of Golf

The arrival of LIV has brought in private equity investment and a new set of eyeballs. Should this be viewed as an opportunity to grow the game at all levels?

Building value in new markets can create additional opportunities for organisations like the DP World Tour to develop.

How influential is something like the Ryder Cup in shaking off some negative perceptions of the sport?

Is golf genuinely accessible and if not, can more be done to bring the game to areas of the world with the least access?