Jon Rahm stands to benefit from LIV's recent change to 72-hole tournaments.
Getty Images
Check in every week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest topics in the sport, and join the conversation by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week, we discuss the sudden, significant change to LIV Golf and what it means for the league’s future.
LIV Golf announced its 2026 tournaments will be played as 72-hole competitions, a major change for a league that not only had previously been 54 holes but used that unique trait as a pivotal part of its identity. While the press release didn’t mention this move as a way to improve LIV’s chances of receiving World Ranking points… we know better. Are you surprised by the sudden shift? And more importantly, will it ultimately work?
Sean Zak, senior writer (@sean_zak): Definitely a little surprised! Only because of all the ’54’ branding. LIV was quietly launched by an agency originally called Performance 54! But for new management, who didn’t create these structures, it probably felt fruitless to continue banging the OWGR drum without trying to make as many changes as possible to actually be granted those points. Will it ultimately work? What does “work” even mean? Garner more audience on FS1 in early June? No. The amount of holes wasn’t keeping golf fans from watching.
Nick Piastowski, senior editor (@nickpia): Yes, the announcement was surprising, though, as Sean noted above, the surprise really was just for LIV’s previous promotion of the number 54 — which led to folks scrambling to figure out what 72 was in Roman numerals. But I think the move works, as long as world ranking points come LIV’s way. I’ll be also curious as to what an extra day of play looks like for LIV in terms of potential revenue (or loss of it) — and what an extra day of play looks like for LIV in terms of player satisfaction.
Dylan Dethier, senior writer (@dylan_dethier): I’ll point out that 54 also has been cited by LIV as the “perfect score” in golf — birdieing every hole on a par-72 course. (Ignoring eagles, par-71s, etc., but whatever.) I think 72 is a nice number of holes for stroke-play tournament golf. But 54 holes was also a big part of what made LIV a “disruptor.” Now that it’s just another league staging 72-hole stroke-play golf tournaments, it just feels in direct competition with the DP World Tour. Maybe that’s the point.
Rory McIlroy was asked about the news while playing in this week’s tournament in Abu Dhabi, although he said he didn’t think playing 54 holes versus 72 was holding LIV back from receiving World Ranking points. What say you? Does LIV still have larger hurdles to leap or was this the main one?
Zak: I think if there are three or four criteria for LIV earning points, the 54 vs. 72 element was one of them. I think the concurrent team competition is an odd sticking point, when the OWGR is all about individual’s performance. But the biggest thing is just the mostly closed-circuit nature of the tour. I know inside LIV HQ they’re expecting to be granted acceptance by the OWGR by the end of 2025, but they’ve also been saying that for a long time.
Piastowski: I think two other moves LIV made this week should also be noted here. LIV’s Q-school will now award two spots into LIV play for 2026, and the top two finishers in the International Series will also now receive playing privileges for next year. Both had previously handed out one spot, so this presumably helps with the ‘closed-shop’ thought that has held LIV back in the world rankings fight.
Dethier: Yep — I think Nick P’s cited moves were the bigger ones here from an OWGR perspective than the 54-hole thing. LIV’s closed shop is cracking open its doors. I’d expect them to get OWGR points relatively soon. I don’t quite understand the timeline. But I do think it was a massive miss for LIV to withdraw its application originally; if it wants to play in the same sandbox as the other tours it could have cooperated earlier.
LIV’s Tyrrell Hatton said only a few players were in favor of the change when it was put in a questionnaire a year ago. If you’re a LIV member, are you annoyed or excited about the tweak?
Zak: If I’m a LIV golfer and I now have an extra work day each tournament, I’m annoyed! If I’m a really good LIV golfer, 31 years old and have dominated the circuit since I arrived — (cough, cough Jon Rahm) — I would be excited about getting an extra 18 holes to remind the average players around me who is boss.
Piastowski: I’ll add this. You’d think that 72 holes should get LIV players in a better mindset for major championships. So whether you’re annoyed that you’re working an extra day or not, the thought that you could be better prepared for the biggest events of the year should soothe any sore muscles.
Dethier: This really feels like a big win for Rahm, who shredded the 54-hole format before he ultimately signed up for LIV. Because he finished inside the top 11 every tournament this year but didn’t win any of ‘em, with a fourth round he definitely would have picked up a couple. Anyway, I think it’s nice for major prep and it’s nice for LIV golfers who are sick of hearing 54-hole jokes. But it’s a bummer for guys who were enjoying the shorter tournament weeks — especially given their international travel schedule.
Also this week, we saw Aaron Rai outlast some Ryder Cup stars, the LPGA strike a deal with Saudi Arabia to co-sanction a PIF Global Series event, a bizarre finish in Japan and some intriguing storylines play out in Mexico (where Ben Griffin eventually won). What’s your biggest takeaway from the week in golf that doesn’t involve a golf league changing to 72-hole tournaments?
Zak: My biggest takeaway is that this feels like the weirdest possible year the LPGA could have had. The weather-shortened event in Arkansas. Nelly Korda never winning. Almost zero multi-time winners. Now this shortened event in Japan in the middle of the night in America, on the heels of the tour taking Saudi money. The up and down nature of it doesn’t make me feel all rosey about the top tour in the women’s game.
Piastowski: That golf truly never has an offseason. That never stops amazing me. News, news, news. Good for those of us in the news reporting business, though.
Dethier: Ben Griffin is still better than you think he is. He shot nine under par on Sunday to win in Mexico. He’s now finished top-12 in his last six PGA Tour events, including the win — which is also his third in 2025, if you include the two-man Zurich Classic. Sure, he’s a late bloomer. But there’s every indication he’s here to stay.
GOLF recently released its latest list of the Top 100 Teachers in America. What’s the best tip you’ve ever received from a Top 100?
Zak: This one, from my pal Chris Como, hit home for my recent tennis obsession:
Piastowski: No teacher can save my game. Kidding, kidding. The Top 100 are miracle workers. I have two tips. I’ve always liked this one from Butch Harmon: To make the correct hip movement, it’s “right pocket back, right pocket through.” The other one is something I picked up just the other day (and I’ll be sharing more about it in a soon-to-come GOLF.com article). The tip comes from Top 100 Teacher to Watch Kelan McDonagh. He worked with me to develop a weaker right-hand grip, and the check to see that it was in proper position was to take my right three fingers off the club and look to see if they were pointing to the ground at a 45-degree angle. McDonagh said he picked that up from Mike Adams, a Top 100 legend, and that he’s been sharing that with students, as well.
Dethier: This summer a top 100 suggested that there is way too much wasted motion in my golf swing. “You need to throw a whole lot of s— off your ship,” was the quote. In other words: Do less.
