LIV Golf has announced that all events will be played over 72 holes from the beginning of the 2026 season.
Since its inception, LIV Golf events have featured a three-day 54-hole competition, playing the majority of events from Friday through Sunday. In 2026, all events will be played over four days, generally beginning on Thursday of event weeks.
“As we enter our fourth season as a League, the move to 72 holes marks a pivotal new chapter for LIV Golf that strengthens our League, challenges our elite field of players, and delivers more of the world-class golf, energy, innovation and access that our global audience wants. We’re seeing upward momentum and traction from Hong Kong to Adelaide to Indianapolis, and that heightened interest opens the door to add another day of golf while benefiting our fans, players, marketing partners, and our global media partners,” said Scott O’Neil, LIV Golf CEO. “The most successful leagues around the world – IPL, EPL, NBA, MLB, NFL – continue to innovate and evolve their product, and as an emerging league, we are no different. LIV Golf will always have an eye towards progress that acts in the best interest of LIV Golf and in the best interest of the sport.”
For every regular season event, the individual competition will be decided over 72 holes of stroke play, while the team competition will continue to run concurrently, with each team’s cumulative individual stroke play scores determining the team’s result. While the format for the season-ending Team Championship will be announced at a later date.
“This is a win for the League, and the players,” said Jon Rahm, Legion XIII Captain and the two-time reigning Individual Champion. “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.”
“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,” added Bryson DeChambeau, Crushers CG Captain. “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.”
Rory McIlroy, who has been a strong critic of the Saudi-backed circuit, called the decision as “peculiar” when interviewed ahead of the DP World Tour’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
“I think it’s a peculiar move,” the Northern Irishman said, “because I think they could have got ranking points with three rounds. I don’t think three rounds vs four rounds is what was holding them back.”
“It certainly puts them more in line with traditional golf tournaments than what we’ve all done,” McIlroy continued. “It brings them back into not really being a destructor and sort of is falling more in line with what everyone else does.
“But if that’s what they felt they needed to do to get the ranking points, I guess that’s what they had to do.”
In 2026, LIV Golf’s schedule has expanded to 10 countries across five continents, with 11 of the League’s 14 events already announced.
The new season will tee off with LIV Golf Riyadh presented by ROSHN between 5-7 February.