Sign up every week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down 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 league.
LIV Golf announced its 2026 tournaments will be played as a 72-hole competitiona big change for a league that had not only previously been 54 holes, but used that unique feature as a major part of its identity. While the press release didn’t mention the move as a way to improve LIV’s chances of getting world ranking points… we know better. Are you surprised by the sudden change? And more importantly, will it ultimately work?
Sean Zak, senior writer (@sean_zak): Definitely a little surprised! Just because of the whole ’54 brand. LIV was quietly launched by an agency originally called Performance 54! But for the new management, who did not create these structures, it probably felt fruitless to keep beating the OWGR drum without trying to make as many changes as possible to deliver those points. Will it eventually work? What does “work” even mean? Get more audience on FS1 in early June? No. The amount of holes wasn’t stopping golf fans from watching.
Nick Piastowski, Senior Editor (@nickpia): Yes, the announcement was surprising, although, as Sean noted above, the surprise was really only about LIV’s previous promotion of the number 54 – which had people scrambling to figure out what 72 was in Roman numerals. But I think the move works, as long as world ranking points come LIV’s way. I’ll also be curious what an extra day of play looks like for LIV in terms of potential revenue (or loss of it) – and what an extra day of play looks like for LIV in terms of player satisfaction.
Dylan Dethier, senior writer (@dylan_dethier): I’ll point out that 54 has also been cited by LIV as the “perfect score” in golf – taming every hole on a par-72 course. (Disregarding the eagles, par-71s, etc., but whatever.) I think 72 is a good number of holes for the stroke golf tournament. But the 54 holes were also a big part of what made LIV a “disruptor.” Now that it’s just another league that hosts 72-hole stroke play golf tournaments, it just feels like it’s in direct competition with the DP World Tour. Maybe that’s the point.
Rory McIlroy was asked about the news while playing at this week’s Abu Dhabi Tour, although he said he didn’t think playing 54 holes versus 72 was holding LIV back from picking up world ranking points. What do you say? Does LIV still have bigger hurdles to overcome or was this the main thing?
Zack: I think if there are three or four criteria to earn LIV points, element 54 vs. 72 was one of them. I think simultaneous team competition is a weird sticking point when OWGR is about individual performance. But the biggest thing is just the largely closed-loop nature of the tournament. I know that within LIV HQ they expect to be accepted by OWGR by the end of 2025, but they have also been saying this for a long time.
Piastowski: I think two more LIV moves made this week should be noted here. LIV’s Q School will now award two spots in the LIV Game for 2026, and the top two finishers in the International Series will also receive playing privileges for the following year. The two had previously shared a spot, so that seems to help with the ‘closed shop’ mentality that has held LIV back in the world rankings battle.
Dethier: Yes – I think Nick P’s quoted moves were the bigger ones here from an OWGR perspective than the 54 hole thing. The closed LIV store is opening its doors. I would expect them to get OWGR points relatively quickly. I don’t understand the timeline at all. But I think it was a massive mistake for LIV to withdraw its application in the first place; if he wants to play in the same sandbox as other tournaments, he could have cooperated earlier.
LIVs Tyrrell Hatton said just a few players were in favor of the change when it was put to a questionnaire a year ago. If you are a member of LIV, are you upset or excited about the change?
Zack: If I’m a LIV golfer and now have an extra day of work every tournament, I’m bummed! If I’m a really good golfer at LIV, 31 years old and I’ve dominated the circuit since I arrived – (cough cough Jon Rahm) – I’d be thrilled to get an extra 18 holes to remind the average players around me who’s boss.
Piastowski: I will add this. You might think that 72 holes should put LIV players in a better mindset for major championships. So whether you’re bummed about working an extra day or not, the thought of being better prepared for the biggest events of the year should soothe any aching muscles.
Dethier: This really feels like a huge win for Rahm, who tore through the 54-hole format before finally signing up for LIV. Because he finished in the top 11 in every tournament this year but didn’t win any of them, a fourth round would definitely have picked up a couple. Anyway, I think it’s good for major prep and nice for LIV golfers who are sick of hearing 54 hole jokes. But it’s a problem for the boys who were enjoying the shortest weeks of the tour – especially given their international travel schedule.
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Also this week, we saw Aaron Rai pass some Ryder Cup stars, the LPGA struck a deal with Saudi Arabia to co-sanction a PIF Global Series event, a strange finish in Japan and some intriguing storylines playing out in Mexico (where Ben Griffin eventually won). What’s your biggest takeaway from golf week that doesn’t involve changing a golf league to a 72-hole tournament?
Zack: My biggest guess is that this feels like the weirdest possible year the LPGA could have had. Event shortened by weather in Arkansas. Nelly Korda never winning. Almost zero multiple time winners. Now this abbreviated event in Japan in the middle of the night in America, at the end of the tour taking the Saudi money. The up-and-down nature of it doesn’t make me feel flexible for the best tournament in the women’s game.
Piastowski: That golf really never has an off season. This never ceases to amaze me. News, news, news. Good for those of us in the news reporting business, though.
Dethier: Ben Griffin is still better than you think he is. He shot nine under on Sunday to win 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 include the two-man Zurich Classic. Of course, he is a late bloomer. But there is every indication that he is here to stay.
GOLF recently released its latest list of the 100 Best Teachers in America. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received from a Top 100?
Zack: This one, from my friend Chris Como, hits home about my latest tennis obsession:
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Piastowski: No teacher can save my game. joke, joke Top 100 are miracle workers. I have two tips. I’ve always liked this one from Butch Harmon: To get the hip movement right, it’s “right pocket back, right pocket through.” The other is something I picked up just the other day (and I’ll share more about it in a GOLF.com article coming soon). 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 three right fingers off the club and see if they were pointing at the ground at a 45 degree angle. McDonagh said he got this from Mike Adams, a Top 100 legend, and that he has shared this with students as well.
Dethier: This summer, a top 100 suggested that there are too many missing moves in my golf swing. “You gotta throw a lot of s— off your ship,” was the quote. In other words: Do less.
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