LIV Golf events will be played over 72 holes starting in 2026, the Saudi Arabia-backed circuit announced on Tuesday.
Since its inception in 2022 LIV Golf tournaments have been 54-hole events, with the majority played Friday through Sunday, an unconventional format that played a role in the Official World Golf Ranking denying it ranking points.
Moving to four days of competition with events beginning on Thursday of tournament weeks puts LIV Golf more in line with the setup of PGA Tour events.
“This is a win for the League, and the players,” said two-time major champion Jon Rahm, LIV Golf’s reigning individual champion and captain of the circuit’s Legion XIII.
“LIV Golf is a player’s league. We are competitors to the core and we want every opportunity to compete at the highest level and to perfect our craft.
“Moving to 72 holes is the logical next step that strengthens the competition, tests us more fully, and if the growing galleries from last season are any indication, delivers more of what the fans want.”
Dustin Johnson added: “It’s a great move for the league and I’m excited for it. Playing 72 holes just feels a little more like the big tournaments we’ve all grown up playing. I’ve always liked the grind of four rounds – it gives the best players a chance to rise to the top.
“LIV Golf has been a great experience from the start, and I think this makes it even better for the fans and for us out there competing.”
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The stakes are high for LIV’s star-studded roster as world rankings play a key role in determining entry into golf’s four majors.
The lack of ranking points has led to LIV Golf players tumbling down the rankings, with former world No 1 Dustin Johnson now ranked 604th in the OWGR.
“The move to 72 holes marks a pivotal new chapter for LIV Golf that strengthens our league, challenges our elite field of players, and delivers more of the world-class golf, energy, innovation and access that our global audience wants,” said LIV Golf chief executive Scott O’Neil.
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