Not long ago, the Saudi-backed league turned the golf world upside down, luring major champions like Jon Rahm with high-profile deals. This offseason, however, momentum has stalled. LIV has announced just two additions: Laurie Canter, who joined shortly after earning his PGA Tour card, and France’s Victor Perez, who signed with Cleeks GC.There were rumors of more substantial steps, but they never materialized. Si Woo Kim reportedly walked away from late-stage talks, while Sungjae Im publicly denied any involvement with LIV on Instagram. To make matters worse, reports have surfaced suggesting that Brooks Koepka is interested in leaving LIV altogether to return to the PGA Tour.
So what has changed? Why is LIV suddenly struggling to attract not just elite stars, but even mid-tier PGA Tour players? Ironically, the answer lies in a strategic decision designed to do the exact opposite.
The decision that changed everything
This off-season, LIV Golf abandoned its defining 54-hole format and switched to traditional 72-hole tournaments. The move was intended to strengthen LIV’s case for official World Golf Ranking points, help its players qualify for majors and, in theory, make the competition more attractive to new recruits.
Instead, the change has largely backfired.
Although Rahm had made a strong case for 72-hole events, many LIV players preferred the shorter format. Dustin Johnson and others openly praised the 54-hole format, which – love it or hate it – gave LIV a distinct identity in a crowded professional landscape.
By moving to 72 holes, LIV has blurred the lines between itself and the PGA Tour. Without ranking points, consistent major access or a clearly differentiated product, the question becomes inevitable: Why would a PGA Tour player make the switch now? For most, money alone is not enough.
As Xander Schauffele’s father, Stefan, put it when asked about LIV rumors:
“LIV could have doubled that figure and the answer would still have been ‘no’. The lack of points in the world rankings and the risk of being frozen out of the majors just wasn’t worth it.”
If eye-watering contracts were going to influence players, they would have done so already. Tiger Woods has rejected an offer of almost $800 million. For some players there is simply no prize.
A tough sell for struggling players
LIV is also not an attractive reset for players looking for form. Recent examples have not inspired confidence: Cam Smith’s struggles and Rahm’s winless season in 2025 raise questions about whether LIV is sharpening or diluting competitive advantages.
The numbers don’t help. No LIV players won a major in 2025, and only three represented their country in the Ryder Cup. For an already in-shape PGA Tour player, joining LIV can seem less like a fresh start and more like a competitive dead end.
By abandoning the 54-hole format, LIV may have surrendered its last bargaining chip: the one element that truly differentiated the company. In retrospect, that decision can be remembered as the moment when the league’s influence began to fade.
Can LIV still turn it around?
At this point, LIV can structurally do little more to attract top talent. The future now largely lies with the players themselves.
One justification for the move to 72 holes was to better prepare LIV golfers for major championships, where PGA Tour players dominated last season. Bryson DeChambeau’s fade in the final round of the Masters, despite being in the final pair, underscored these concerns.
With a full four-round format now in place, LIV players finally have the platform to prove they can still compete at the highest level. If they start winning majors again, perceptions may change – and so can the recruiting landscape.
But another majorless season would likely exacerbate the problem. Not only would new signings remain scarce, but LIV’s biggest names could also be looking for the exit.
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