LIV Golf has made the seismic decision to backtrack on its 54-hole format and implement the traditional 72 holes for the 2026 season.
Despite 54 holes being one of the founding principles of the competition and taking name from the Roman numeral for 54, LIV, organisers have opted to move away from the unconventional format following pressure from players.
The primary reason players wanted to alter the format of the Saudi-backed league is due to Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points - with LIV not recognised under the 54-hole model - and better preparation for majors, with many, not all, of LIV's stars struggling at the big four events on the calendar.
While altering to 72 holes does not automatically guarantee LIV will be accepted by the OWGR, the change could have a unifying impact on golf.
“LIV Golf is a player’s league,” said two-time major winner Jon Rahm. “We are competitors to the core and we want every opportunity to compete at the highest level and to perfect our craft.
Moving to 72 holes is the logical next step that strengthens the competition, tests us more fully, and if the growing galleries from last season are any indication, delivers more of what the fans want.
Scott O’Neil, LIV’s chief executive, added: “The most successful leagues around the world – IPL, EPL [English Premier League], NBA, MLB, NFL – continue to innovate and evolve their product.
"As an emerging league, we are no different. LIV Golf will always have an eye towards progress that acts in the best interest of LIV Golf and in the best interest of the sport.”
While LIV will now mirror the schedule traditional golf tours it once tried to upstage, the competition will continue to run both individual and team competition elements.
A LIV statement added: “For each regular season event, the individual competition will be decided over 72 holes of stroke play, while the team competition will continue to run concurrently, with each team’s cumulative individual stroke play scores determining the team’s result.”
