LIV Golf’s 54-hole format is no more.
The Saudi Arabian-backed golf league, which was named after its shortened 54-hole tournament style, will switch to standard 72-hole events in 2026, it announced on Tuesday. LIV Golf will continue to feature shotgun starts and both individual and team competitions.
“The most successful leagues around the world — IPL, EPL, NBA, MLB, NFL — continue to innovate and evolve their product, and as an emerging league, we are no different,” LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil said in a statement, in part. “LIV Golf will always have an eye towards progress that acts in the best interest of LIV Golf and in the best interest of the sport.
Though it wasn’t mentioned specifically, a major reason for the switch has to do with LIV Golf’s push to be recognized by the Official World Golf Rankings. While it’s not the only metric, major championships and other events around the world utilize the OWGR when building out their fields. The Masters, for example, invites every golfer who finished inside the top 50 of the OWGR at the end of the previous year.
The OWGR, however, has not recognized LIV Golf events — meaning that golfers have been constantly plummeting in the rankings. Jon Rahm is currently ranked No. 71, for example, and Dustin Johnson has fallen to No. 604. Both guys previously held the top spot earlier in their careers.
The OWGR rejected LIV Golf’s application during its first season of competition in 2023, in part because it’s a closed league, is shorter than most and has both individual and team competitions. LIV Golf reapplied for OWGR points in July.
“Everyone wants to see the best players in the world competing against each other, especially in the majors, and for the good of the game, we need a path forward,” Bryson DeChambeau, perhaps the best player on the LIV Golf circuit, said in a statement. “By moving to 72 holes, LIV Golf is taking a proactive step to align with the historic format recognized globally. This is a fantastic evolution of the LIV Golf product, showing how our League listens and adapts to create the best possible experience.”
LIV Golf will open its season on Feb. 5 in Saudi Arabia. The league has confirmed three tournaments in the United States so far, first at Trump National Golf Club outside of Washington, D.C. in May. It will also stop in Louisiana in June and Indianapolis in August.
