LIV Golf occasions will likely be prolonged to 72 holes from 2026, placing them according to the game’s established excursions.
The Saudi Arabia-backed circuit was launched in 2022 with 54-hole occasions and even takes its identify from the Roman numeral for 54 – LIV.
The unconventional format performed a task in gamers being denied official rating factors, with most LIV occasions having been performed from Friday to Sunday.
They’ll now be contested from Thursday of event weeks – other than a Wednesday begin for February’s LIV Golf Riyadh.
Two-time main winner Jon Rahm, who won his second straight LIV title in August, stated that “this can be a win for the league, and the gamers”.
“LIV Golf is a participant’s league,” stated the previous world primary. “We’re rivals to the core and we would like each alternative to compete on the highest degree and to excellent our craft.
“Shifting to 72 holes is the logical subsequent step that strengthens the competitors, assessments us extra totally, and, if the rising galleries from final season are any indication, delivers extra of what the followers need.”
Official World Golf Rating (OWGR) factors play a key function in figuring out entry into golf’s 4 majors.
LIV Golf gamers have slid down the rankings with Rahm now 71st on the planet whereas Dustin Johnson, one other former world primary, is 604th.
“Taking part in 72 holes simply feels just a little extra like the massive tournaments we have all grown up enjoying,” stated Johnson. “I’ve at all times favored the grind of 4 rounds.”
Bryson DeChambeau, who can be on the LIV tour, added: “Everybody desires to see the very best gamers on the planet competing in opposition to one another, particularly within the majors, and for the great of the sport, we’d like a path ahead.”
For every common season occasion, the person competitors will likely be determined over 72 holes of stroke play.
The workforce competitors will proceed to run concurrently, with every workforce’s cumulative particular person stroke play scores figuring out the workforce outcome.
“The transfer to 72 holes marks a pivotal new chapter for LIV Golf that strengthens our league, challenges our elite area of gamers, and delivers extra of the world-class golf, power, innovation and entry that our international viewers desires,” stated LIV Golf chief government Scott O’Neil.
“Essentially the most profitable leagues around the globe – IPL, EPL, NBA, MLB, NFL – proceed to innovate and evolve their product, and as an rising league, we are not any totally different.”
