LIV Golf’s move to 72 holes is unpopular among players and unlikely to help its OWGR ambitions. A closer look.
Social media has been flooded with jokes and memes ever since LIV Golf announced it would expand its tournament format from 54 to 72 holes. Given that LIV stands for the Roman numeral 54, many are joking that the league should now be renamed LXXII. But that’s likely the least of LIV’s concerns.
LIV Golf abandons a core identity
The decision has sparked a credibility crisis. Critics argue that LIV has abandoned a core part of its identity. While the number of players remains at 54 for now, new trademark filings suggest more teams could be added, potentially increasing the field size and further diluting the brand’s original concept.
Some speculate that the change is an attempt to gain OWGR points under new chairman Trevor Immelman. But as Rory McIlroy and others have pointed out, the 54-hole format is not the main issue. Rather, it’s the limited field and lack of open qualification pathways that make LIV seem more like a closed shop than a true alternative to established tours.
Is LIV becoming what it once opposed?
The shift raises questions about what might be next to go: team play? shotgun starts? Will there eventually be a cut? As LIV begins to resemble traditional tours, it risks losing the disruptive edge it once touted with slogans like “Golf. But louder.”
Even the argument that players wanted 72 holes doesn’t hold up. Tyrrell Hatton recently revealed that only three out of 48 LIV players supported the change in a 2024 survey. Talor Gooch previously said he found 54-hole events more exciting for fans.
Rahm’s influence and DeChambeau’s leverage
Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau are among the few who favor the change. Both have major ambitions and prefer the standard format. Rahm reportedly made 72 holes a condition of his move to LIV. DeChambeau, meanwhile, is negotiating a contract extension. Their influence, combined with new CEO Scott O’Neil’s pragmatic leadership, suggests LIV is bending to accommodate its biggest stars.
“This is a win for the league and the players,” said Rahm. “We are competitors and want to perform at the highest level. The move to 72 holes strengthens the competition and gives fans more of what they want.”
DeChambeau added: “Playing 72 holes feels more like the big tournaments we grew up with. It gives the best players a chance to rise to the top.”
Whether this shift helps LIV gain legitimacy or simply makes it another tour remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the league is no longer the outsider it once claimed to be.