LIV Golf to change to 72-hole format

From 2026, LIV Golf events will be able to hold 72 holes, keeping them within the established LIV golf schedule.

The 54-hole events that were held on the Saudi Arabia-backed circuit in 2022 and the unconventional format of the competitions caused players to be denied official ranking points.

With the exception of a Wednesday start for LIV Golf Riyadh’s LIV Golf Riyadh, the majority of LIV events have been held on Friday through Sunday. However, they will now start on Thursday of the tournament week.

Jon Rahm, a two-time major champion who won his second straight LIV title in August, declared, “This is a win for the league and the players.

The former world number one remarked, “LIV Golf is a player’s league.” We want every opportunity to compete at the highest level and advance our craft because we are fierce competitors.

Moving to 72 holes is the logical next step in strengthening the competition, putting us to the test more, and providing more of what fans want, if the growing galleries from last season are any indication.

Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points are crucial for gaining entry to golf’s four majors.

Rahm is currently ranked 71st in the world, while Dustin Johnson, a former world number one, is 604th. LIV Golf players are also currently ranked 71st.

Johnson remarked, “Playing 72 holes just feels a little more like the big tournaments we’ve all grown up playing.” The four rounds grind has always always been my favorite.

Everyone wants to see the world’s best players competing against one another, especially in the majors, and we need a way forward, according to Bryson DeChambeau, who is also touring.

The individual competition will be decided over the course of 72 holes of stroke play for each regular season competition.

The team result will be determined by each team’s overall individual stroke play scores, which will continue to take place concurrently.

The expansion of LIV Golf to 72 holes is a crucial step in the development of our sport, says LIV Golf’s CEO, Scott O’Neil, and opens up more of the world’s elite golf, energy, innovation, and access that our global audience demands.

Iain Carter, a golf correspondent for the BBC, analyzes the game.

This is LIV’s most significant change since Greg Norman’s appointment as the breakaway tour’s chief executive last year, when Scott O’Neil took over.

One of the main distinctions between LIV and the established professional tours is being voluntarily rejected.

Their players, many of whom have fought for this switch, are obviously pleased that they are adding an additional round. Jon Rahm stated to BBC Sport that he wanted to see the format grow from three to four rounds in his debut LIV season.

Rahm claimed at the time that a similar modification would bring the two games closer together. However, there is still a slim chance that it will cause the PGA Tour and the Saudi-funded circuit to join forces.

The official golf rankings may be able to support LIV’s quest for recognition, but the OWGR is still likely to have concerns about the league’s team structure, which could compromise individual performances.

When LIV’s initial request for recognition was rejected, this was a major issue. Additionally, LIV made this week an additional step that could help players gain recognition for their tour’s expanded pathway, which they hope will enable them to do so.