Rory McIlroy says LIV’s move to 72 holes is ‘peculiar’, questions benefits of ranking points

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates – Rory McIlroy has described LIV Golf’s decision to expand its events to 72 holes as ‘peculiar’.

The Saudi-funded breakaway circuit will align itself more closely with traditional golf tours by moving from three to four rounds next year.

The format change could boost LIV’s bid to be recognized by the Official World Golf Ranking, which is crucial as the four majors use the list to help determine their fields.

The OWGR rejected LIV’s request for world ranking points when the competition began, mainly due to concerns that it would be a closed shop of the same 54 players all year round, with the exception of alternates replacing injured players, and that team competition could compromise the integrity of the individual competition as it was based on the same scores.

McIlroy has been outspoken about LIV’s disruption of the golf world and was asked for his thoughts on the change to 72 holes when he spoke at his press conference ahead of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on Wednesday.

“I think it’s a strange move,” McIlroy said, “because I think with three rounds they could have gained ranking points. I don’t think three rounds versus four rounds held them back.

“It certainly brings them more in line with traditional golf tournaments than what we’ve all been doing,” he added. “It brings them back to not really being a destructor and kind of matches what everyone else is doing. But if that’s what they felt they had to do to get the ranking points, then I think that’s what they had to do.”

McIlroy wondered how many ranking points are offered at LIV Golf events.

“Because their field strength is going to be so weak, because a lot of the guys have already dropped down the rankings because they haven’t had ranking points for so long, I don’t know if the ranking points will really benefit them,” McIlroy said.

“Yes, it will be interesting to see how it turns out.”

McIlroy will play the Abu Dhabi tournament for the twelfth time. He has nine top-three finishes but has never won.

The Northern Irishman sits at the top of the Race to Dubai season standings with two events remaining, and a win this week would take him closer to a seventh title in what was the Order of Merit – a record held by Colin Montgomerie.