Rory McIlroy comments on 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 switch to 72-hole tournaments. Originally launched as a 54-hole series, the Saudi-backed league aimed to challenge traditional golf norms. The change is widely seen as an attempt to meet the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) criteria and secure ranking points for its players.
McIlroy: ‘Not really a disruptor anymore’
“I find it strange, because I think they could have gotten 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 OWGR’s concerns, other issues included LIV’s closed league structure and team-based format. After initially abandoning its OWGR application, LIV resumed discussions in July 2025 and appears willing to make changes that could alter its core identity.
“They’re aligning more with traditional golf tournaments,” McIlroy noted. “They’re not really a disruptor anymore, just doing what everyone else does. But if they felt it was necessary to get ranking points, then they had to do it.”
Ranking points may not solve LIV’s challenges
Even if LIV Golf secures OWGR points, McIlroy believes the league still faces hurdles. “The problem is, even if LIV players start getting points, the field strength will be weak because many have dropped in the rankings after 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,” he said.