LIV Golf to change to 72-hole format from 2026 season
LIV Golf events will expand to 72 holes from 2026, bringing it in line with the sport’s established rounds.
The Saudi Arabia-backed circuit launched with 54-hole events in 2022, and the unusual format of the events played a role in players being denied official ranking points.
Most LIV events have been played from Friday to Sunday, but tournament weeks will now be played from Thursday onwards, except for February’s LIV Golf Riyadh, which starts on Wednesday.
“It’s a win for the league and the players,” said two-time major winner Jon Rahm, who won his second straight LIV title in August.
“LIV Golf is a players’ league,” the former world number one said. “We are competitors to the core and want every opportunity to compete at the highest level and perfect our craft.
“If moving to 72 holes is any indication, strengthening the competition, testing us more thoroughly and delivering more of what fans want if the galleries that have grown since last season are any indication.”
Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) scores play an important role in determining entry into golf’s four majors.
LIV Golf players dropped in the rankings; Rahm is currently ranked 71st in the world, while another former world number one, Dustin Johnson, is ranked 604th.
“Playing 72 holes is a little more like the big tournaments we all grew up playing,” Johnson said. “I always loved the grind of four rounds.”
Bryson DeChambeau, who is also on the LIV tour, added: “Everyone wants to see the best players in the world compete against each other, especially in the big leagues, and we need a path forward for the good of the game.”
Individual competition for each regular season event will be determined through 72 holes of stroke play.
The team competition will continue simultaneously and each team’s total individual strokeplay scores will determine the team outcome.
“The move to 72 holes marks a pivotal new chapter for LIV Golf, strengthening our league, challenging our field of elite players and delivering more of the world-class golf, energy, innovation and access our global audiences want,” said LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil.
“The most successful leagues around the world – IPL, EPL, NBA, MLB, NFL – continue to innovate and improve their products, and as an emerging league, we are no different.”
