LIV Golf is switching to 72-hole tournaments starting in 2026, signaling a major strategic shift toward gaining official world ranking recognition.
When LIV Golf launched in 2022, its entire identity was built around speed and brevity. The league’s name itself was a Roman numeral nod to 54 holes, its signature three-day format designed to create a faster, more digestible golf product with shotgun starts and compressed schedules. Now, just three years later, the upstart tour is abandoning that core principle. Beginning in 2026, LIV will play full 72-hole tournaments, a fundamental restructuring that signals how much the competitive landscape has shifted.
The move is widely understood as a strategic concession to the Official World Golf Ranking system, which has refused to recognize LIV events since the league’s inception. That rejection has had real consequences: star players like Jon Rahm, ranked third on independent metrics, languish outside the top 70 in official OWGR standings.
Without OWGR points, players cannot accumulate Ryder Cup qualification points, a significant limitation for international competition. By adopting the traditional 72-hole format, LIV is attempting to remove one barrier to official recognition, though the committee has also raised concerns about the league’s qualifying system and closed-shop structure.
Observers online have reacted with a mix of pragmatism and wry humor to the announcement. Many commenters noted the irony of LIV abandoning the very format that defined its brand identity, with some joking that the league’s name no longer makes sense. Others viewed the shift as a necessary evolution, pointing out that successful global sports leagues continuously adapt their products. The community seemed to recognize this as a calculated move in LIV’s ongoing effort to legitimize itself within professional golf’s establishment.
According to an article LIVGolf.com, CEO Scott O’Neill framed the change as part of a broader commitment to innovation, comparing the league to the IPL, EPL, and major North American sports franchises. Star player Bryson DeChambeau echoed this sentiment, calling the shift a positive evolution. Yet the reality is more complex: moving to 72 holes alone won’t solve all of LIV’s recognition challenges. The OWGR committee will still need to be convinced that the league’s team format, qualifying pathways, and overall structure meet their standards. LIV has made incremental improvements, including a promotions event and partnerships with the Asian Tour, but whether these changes collectively satisfy the ranking body remains uncertain.
The 2026 season opener in Riyadh will mark the beginning of this new era. For LIV, the shift represents a calculated gamble that conforming to traditional tournament structure will accelerate its path to legitimacy. For golf fans, it raises a deeper question: can a league born from disruption find success by embracing the very conventions it was created to challenge?
Nick is the founder of GolfSpan and an avid golfer. He’s not quite a pro but has over 15 years of experience playing and coaching golfers worldwide. His mission is to bring the golfing community a better experience when it comes to choosing the right golf gear and finding the right setup for your game.
