Rory McIlroy reacts to LIV Golf’s move to 72-hole events, questioning its impact on OWGR eligibility.
Rory McIlroy shared his thoughts during a press conference regarding LIV Golf’s announcement to transition to 72-hole tournaments. Originally launched as a 54-hole series, the Saudi-backed league aimed to break from traditional golf norms. The shift is widely seen as an attempt to meet the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) criteria and secure ranking points for its players.
McIlroy: Format change not the real issue
“I find it strange, because in my opinion, they could have earned ranking points with three rounds,” McIlroy said. “I don’t think the number of rounds was what held them back.”
While tournament length was one of the OWGR’s concerns, other issues included the league’s closed nature and team-based format. LIV Golf had previously paused its OWGR application but resumed dialogue in July 2025, signaling a willingness to make changes that could alter the league’s identity.
“No longer a disruptor”
“This makes them more like traditional golf tournaments,” McIlroy noted. “They’re no longer really a disruptor, but more aligned with what everyone else is doing. If they felt that was necessary to get ranking points, then they had to do it.”
Still, McIlroy doubts the effectiveness of the move. “Even if LIV players start earning OWGR points, the strength of the fields will be weak because many players have already dropped in the rankings due to not earning points for so long. I’m not sure how much the points will help them. It’ll be interesting to see how it plays out.”