Tyrrell Hatton says LIV professionals ‘initially’ rejected the format change in the survey

LIV Golf’s the decision to switch from 54-hole to 72-hole tournamentseffective immediately, the league’s stars announced in press releases. But according to renowned LIV pro Tyrrell Hatton, the format change was more controversial when it was first presented to players.

Hatton admitted as much during his pre-tournament press conference in HSBC Abu Dhabi Championship 2025where he revealed a survey of LIV players a year ago showed that players were largely opposed to 72-hole tournaments.

Hatton reveals the surprising results of LIV’s player survey

Of the many players who have given up the PGA Tour for LIV Golf, Hatton is one of the few who has seen his star rise since joining the fledgling league.

He was one European Ryder Cup team match for the better part of a decade, and a match near the top of the main championship tables during the last two years. Hatton’s His erratic but true demeanor on the course has endeared him to golf fans around the world.

This week, he was one of the first LIV Golf professionals to face questions from reporters about LIV’s move to 72-hole tournaments at his press conference on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi.

When the questions began, Hatton initially made it clear that he supports the change.

“I think it’s a good thing that LIV has gone through four rounds,” he began.

But then he revealed that late last year after his first season, LIV Golf offered a “questionnaire” to players, which included the idea of ​​the 72-hole tournament.

“I know at the end of my first season, there was a questionnaire that was filled out. One of the questions was about the 72-hole swing,” Hatton said.

But the poll didn’t go down well for players like Hatton who backed a 72-hole move. According to him, only three players approved the idea in the questionnaire.

“I think about everyone who filled it in, I think there were only three guys, initially, who had said (yes) to moving there (to 72 holes),” Hatton admitted. “I think that’s changed a lot in the last year, and certainly from my point of view, I’m quite happy that we’ve gone to 72 holes.”

LIV stars praise 72-hole format change in press release

Hatton’s revelation about players’ initial rejection of the 72-hole format change stands in stark contrast to the statements made by LIV’s biggest stars in the press release announcing the change.

Jon Rahmthe league’s top player in winning seasons, wrote: “This is a win for the League, and the players… the move to 72 holes is the next logical step that tightens the competition, tests us more fully and if the growing galleries from last season are any indication, delivers more of what the fans want.”

“I think it’s a great move for the League and I’m excited about it,” he said Dustin Johnson. “Playing 72 holes just feels a little more like the big tournaments we all grew up playing. I’ve always liked the four-round weave — it gives the best players a chance to rise to the top, the players a chance to rise to the top.”

Joaquin Niemannwho won five LIV tournaments in 2025, said: “I’m excited to see the League make this change.”

Two-time US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau hailed the change as a “fantastic evolution” and said that “by moving to 72 holes, LIV Golf is taking a proactive step to align with the historic, globally recognized format.”

DeChambeau also touched on what is likely the biggest motivation behind the format change. LIV Golf has failed to receive recognition from Official World Golf Rankingmaking it more difficult for its players to qualify for major championships.

One of the biggest obstacles to being adopted by the OWGR was the fact that their tournaments were only 54 holes long, while the rest of the pro golf world played 72-hole events.

If the format change results in OWGR recognition, we should begin to see LIV Golf’s top players continue to compete in major championships for the foreseeable future.

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