Join us every week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they discuss the hottest topics in sports, and join the conversation by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week we discuss the sudden, significant change at LIV Golf and what it means for the future of the competition.
LIV Golf has announced that the 2026 tournaments will be played as 72-hole competitions, a major change for a competition that previously not only consisted of 54 holes, but used that unique feature as a crucial part of its identity. While the press release didn’t mention this move as a way to increase LIV’s chances of receiving World Ranking points… we know better. Are you surprised by the sudden change? And more importantly, will it work in the end?
Sean Zak, senior writer (@sean_zak): Definitely a bit surprised! Just because of all the ’54’ branding. LIV was quietly launched by an agency originally called Performance 54! But for the new management, who didn’t create these structures, it probably felt fruitless to keep beating the OWGR drum without trying to make as many changes as possible to actually get those points. Will it work out in the end? What does ‘work’ actually mean? Want to attract more audiences on FS1 in early June? No. The number of holes didn’t deter golf fans from watching.
Nick Piastowski, editor-in-chief (@nickpia): Yes, the announcement was surprising, but as Sean noted above, the surprise actually only applied to LIV’s previous promotion of the number 54 – which led to people scrambling to find out what 72 was in Roman numerals. But I think this move will work, as long as LIV gets points in the world rankings. I’m also curious to see what an extra day of play looks like for LIV in terms of potential revenue (or loss thereof) – and what an extra day of playing looks like for LIV in terms of player satisfaction.
Dylan Dethier, senior writer (@dylan_dethier): I would point out that 54 is also cited by LIV as the “perfect score” in golf: birdieing every hole on a par-72 course. (Not counting eagles, par-71s, etc., but whatever.) I think 72 is a good number of holes for stroke play tournament golf. But 54 holes were also a big part of what made LIV a disruptor. Now that it’s just another league hosting 72-hole stroke play golf tournaments, it just feels like direct competition with the DP World Tour. Maybe that’s the point.
Rory McIlroy was asked about the news while playing this week’s tournament in Abu Dhabi, although he said he didn’t think playing 54 holes versus 72 would stop LIV from receiving World Ranking points. What are you saying? Does LIV have any bigger hurdles to overcome or was this the most important one?
‘Odd move:’ Rory McIlroy left with more questions than answers after LIV Golf’s substitution
By means of:
Josh Schrock
Bag: I think if there are three or four criteria for earning LIV points, the 54 versus 72 element was one of them. I think the simultaneous team competition is a strange sticking point, when the OWGR is all about the performance of the individual. But the biggest thing is just the largely closed circuit nature of the tour. I know that within LIV headquarters they expect to be accepted by the OWGR by the end of 2025, but they have been saying that for a long time.
Piastowski: I think two other moves LIV made this week should be mentioned here as well. LIV’s Q School will now award two spots for LIV play for 2026, and the top two finishers in the International Series will now also receive playing privileges for next year. Both had previously handed out one spot, so this probably helps with the closed-shop idea that has held LIV back in the world rankings battle.
Dethier: Yeah, I think Nick P’s quoted moves here were the bigger ones from an OWGR perspective than the 54-hole thing. LIV’s closed store opens its doors. I expect them to get OWGR points relatively quickly. I don’t quite understand the timeline. But I do think it was a huge mistake on LIV’s part to originally withdraw his application; if it wants to play in the same sandbox as the other tours, it could have teamed up sooner.
LIV’s Tyrrell Hatton said only a few players were in favor of the change when it was put into a questionnaire a year ago. If you are a LIV member, are you annoyed or enthusiastic about the adjustment?
Bag: Being a LIV golfer and now having an extra day of work every tournament irritates me! If I am a very good LIV golfer, 31 years old and dominating the circuit since my arrival — (cough, cough Jon Rahm) — I’d like to get an extra 18 holes to remind the average players around me who’s boss.
Piastowski: I’ll add this. You would think that 72 holes should give LIV players a better mentality for major championships. So whether you’re annoyed about having to work an extra day or not, the thought that you could be better prepared for the biggest events of the year should soothe your sore muscles.
Dethier: This really feels like a big win for Rahm, who destroyed the 54-hole format before finally signing up for LIV. Since he finished in the top 11 in every tournament this year but didn’t win any, a fourth-round finish would certainly have seen him win a few. Anyway, I think it’s fun for the big prep and fun for LIV golfers who are tired of hearing 54-hole jokes. But it’s a shame for the boys who enjoyed the shorter tournament weeks, especially given their international travel schedule.
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Also this week we saw Aaron Rai outlast a number of 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 ultimately won). What is your biggest lesson from the golf week where golf competition doesn’t turn into 72-hole tournaments?
Bag: My biggest takeaway is that this feels like the strangest possible year the LPGA could have had. The weather-shortened event in Arkansas. Nelly Korda never win. Almost zero multiple winners. Now this shortened event in Japan is in the middle of the night in America, after the tour that costs Saudi money. The up and down nature of it doesn’t leave me feeling entirely rosy about the top tour in the women’s game.
Piastowski: That golf really never has an off season. That never ceases to amaze me. News, news, news. But good for those of us who work in news reporting.
Dethier: Ben Griffin is still better than you think. He shot nine under par on Sunday and won in Mexico. He has now finished in the top 12 in his last six PGA Tour events, including the win – which is also his third in 2025, if you count the two-man Zurich Classic. Sure, he’s a late bloomer. But everything indicates that he will stay here.
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?
Bag: This one, from my friend Chris Como, came home from my recent tennis obsession:
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Piastowski: No teacher can save my game. A joke, a joke. The Top 100 are miracle workers. I have two tips. I’ve always liked this one from Butch Harmon: To get the right hip movement, it’s “right pocket in back, right pocket through.” The other is something I picked up recently (and I’ll share more about it in an upcoming 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 if it was in the right position was to take my right three fingers off the club and see if they were pointing at a 45 degree angle toward the ground. McDonagh said he took that from Mike Adams, a Top 100 legend, and shared 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 have to throw a lot of stuff off your ship,” was the quote. In other words: do less.
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