News has emerged that the Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit will extend events from 54 holes to 72, bringing it in line with other established golf tours. The LIV Golf schedule returns to action on February 4th in Riyadh, and fans will be excited about this change that gives them more action.
Not only will this help to boost the profile and publicity of future LIV events, but it will also benefit supporting industries, including television broadcasting and gambling. More golf means more betting markets for fans to enjoy, with the top UK and non Gamstop betting operators set to offer even more options for fans.
Broadcasters will have even more action to show, which could lead to increased sponsorship revenue deals as the competition grows in stature.
The one major issue associated with moving from a 54-hole to a 72-hole format is the name. The LIV dates back to 2022, with its name representing the number of holes being played in Roman numerals, LIV. It is unlikely that the event will undergo a name change to LXXII, which is not quite as catchy.
This decision to backtrack on its founding principles is not so much a defeat for the organisers as a willingness to adapt and evolve the event to ensure longevity and work in the best interests of golf as a sport and its participants.
Alleged pressure from players, who felt underprepared going into the majors after taking part in the LIV tournament, is one reason being cited for the change. Another reason could be the decision by the sport’s official world-ranking system not to recognise tournaments that took away from the spectacle, and moving to a 72-hole tournament could potentially see this decision change in the future.
Concerns about the team format in the LIV league could continue to hamper the chances of recognition by the OWGR, with individual performances potentially impacted by it. However, an extended qualification pathway could work in its favour.
LIV launched as an innovative new golf tournament in 2022 after being founded in 2021, with its first season featuring eight 54-hole tournaments. It was announced that the following year would feature a league format with 48 contracted players that included a rankings list and a 4-player relegation system.
To attract the best players and minimise disruption to existing PGS tournaments, LIV events run on a schedule that avoids major tournaments and events and has a $405 million prize fund. It is funded by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, and signals a similar shift in sports as football has also faced in recent years.
The growth of football in Saudi Arabia, and the money involved, have been key to securing some of the biggest names in world football who are unable to turn down financial packages that would set their families up for generations.
The first LIV event attracted some massive names from the world of golf, including Dustin Johnson, Graeme McDowell, Martin Kaymer, Lee Westwood, Charl Schwartzel, Sergio García, and Louis Oosthuizen. Finances have played a major part in being able to attract major names to a new tournament format.
The PGA Tour was not welcoming to LIV in the slightest, announcing that players taking part could face sanctions including fines, suspensions, and bans. However, there have since been investigations into anti-competitive behaviour.
The success of LIV events is partly down to the deals with global broadcasting companies, including DAZN, which streams to viewers in the US, Spain, Japan, Germany, Italy, Canada, and other countries.
Sina Sports ensures Chinese golf fans can tune in, while Viaplay serves the Nordic countries of Europe, L’Equipe broadcasts in France, and other companies cater to a wide array of countries around the world. UK viewers are able to tune into LIV events via ITV’s digital channel ITVX as well as ITV 1 and ITV 4.
The 2026 LIV schedule is set to draw more attention than ever before and moves on from Riyadh’s opening tournament to Adelaide in Australia from February 12th to the 15th. Hong Kong, Singapore, and South African events take place over the month of March, with the sole April event taking place in Mexico.
The Trump National DC course in Virginia hosts the May event from the 7th to the 10th, with Andalucia nd Louisiana the venues for June’s. July 23rd to 26th will see the UK host the penultimate event at the JCB Golf and Country Club, before the final event takes place at Chatham Hills in the US.
The change to the LIV format is a statement of intent from its organisers, who believe that this move could put it among some of the biggest tours in the world, and as it grows, it could attract some of the biggest current players. How the PGA reacts to this moving forward could also have larger ramifications on the game itself.
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