US EditionLIV Golf to expand to 72 holes in a bid for world ranking points
LIV Golf will switch to 72-hole tournaments in 2026 to improve chances of earning Official World Golf Ranking points and help players qualify for major championships.
- On Tuesday, Nov. 4, LIV Golf announced it will abandon the three-round, 54-hole format and expand events to 72 holes starting with the 2026 season.
- The Official World Golf Ranking had previously rejected LIV's 54-hole, no-cut format and closed-shop concerns, limiting LIV players' routes to major championships and causing ranking declines.
- Jon Rahm, Legion XIII captain and two-time reigning individual champion, welcomed the move, saying `This is a win for the League, and the players,` as LIV Golf retains shotgun starts and concurrent team competition.
- The move could ease LIV's path toward recognition by meeting major championships' criteria and expand pathways for players to earn ranking points, shaping contract negotiations for top players.
- The 2026 season opens Feb. 4-7 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, amid a $590.1 million loss and U.S. TV ratings peaking at 484,000, while LIV grows its roster toward 56 players and retains shotgun starts for about 57 players.
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2026 is going to be the year of change for golf. LIV Golf has changed the format of its events to increase the holes from 54 to 72. They also increased the number of qualifying spots from the LIV Golf Promotions Event. While Scott O’Neil is focusing on growth, it seems that the PGA Tour is going backwards as they will reduce the competition on the field next season. Next year, only 100 PGA Tour players will receive memberships instead of 125. An…
Rory McIlroy calls LIV Golf's move to 72 holes 'peculiar'
LIV Golf's move to 72-hole events beginning in 2026 has been widely speculated as an attempt to gain Official World Golf Ranking points, but Rory McIlroy isn't convinced that it will have the desired effect if that's the case.
LIV to expand to 72 holes in a bid for world ranking points
LIV Golf, the Saudi-funded league known for its 54-hole events with shotgun starts, is expanding to 72 holes for the 2026 season and adding a few extra qualifying spots in a move that could boost its bid to be recognized by the Official World Golf Ranking. The name of the league — the roman numeral for 54 — was built around its faster pace over three rounds instead of the traditional four on most other circuits. The shotgun start will remain for…
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