The Saudi-backed golf league announced on Tuesday, Nov. 4 an expansion of all of its events to four days and 72 holes beginning with the 2026 season. LIV Golf events had previously been three days and 54 holes during its first three years of competition, with the lighter schedule cited by some golfers as a reason for why they chose to leave the PGA Tour.
But the 54-hole caveat, instead of the traditional 72 holes played during tournaments on the PGA Tour and elsewhere, proved to be among the obstacles for LIV Golf in its pursuit of earning recognition from the World Golf Rankings. It is not currently considered an eligible tour for world golf ranking points, with stars like Bryson DeChambeau ranked outside the top 20 and Jon Rahm outside the top 70 at the moment due to the distinction.
“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,’ DeChambeau 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 events will now start on Thursday and run through Sunday, with the individual competition decided over 72 holes of stroke play. The team competition and shotgun starts that were a feature of LIV Golf’s first three seasons remain in place, with the hope they continue to add excitement and improve the pace of play on the course. LIV Golf officials said the format for its season-ending team championship event will be announced at a later date.
LIV Golf members can earn OWGR points at the four major championships and events on other circuits, such as the DP World Tour or the Asian Tour. LIV Golf withdrew its official bid for OWGR points last year, which was originally sent in June 2022, but resubmitted an application over the summer.
“This is a win for the league, and the players,” Rahm said in a statement. “LIV Golf is a player’s league. We are competitors to the core and we want every opportunity to compete at the highest level and to perfect our craft. Moving to 72 holes is the logical next step that strengthens the competition, tests us more fully, and if the growing galleries from last season are any indication, delivers more of what the fans want.”
This past weekend also marked the start of the league’s official offseason, which allows captains to sign, release and trade players based on where they finished in the 2025 standings. Rahm won LIV Golf’s season-long individual title for the second year in a row in 2025 and Legion XIII featuring Rahm European Ryder Cup teammate Tyrrell Hatton also won the $14 million first-place prize for the team competition.
The 2026 LIV Golf season is scheduled to begin Feb. 4 at Riyadh Golf Club in Saudi Arabia.
