It seems like everything you knew about LIV Golf is changing, but Rory McIlroy isn’t so sure that’s going to make much of a difference.
The breakaway golf league announced a major change to its format on November 4, stating that, beginning in 2026, tournaments will be 72-hole events. That’s a significant departure from the past, of course, as LIV tournaments had been 54 holes (LIV is 54 in Roman numerals).
For a tournament that built a significant portion of its brand around 54-hole tournaments, it’s a huge shift. However, it’s one the league — which is now under the watchful eye of CEO Scott O’Neill — felt was necessary to gain world ranking points.
Not everyone is convinced it’s a good play, though. PGA Tour superstar Rory McIlroy, arguably the most outspoken LIV critic on the planet, told reporters this week it’s a “peculiar” change and one that might not deliver the intended impact.
“I think it’s a peculiar move because I think they could have got ranking points with three rounds,” McIlroy told reporters in a press conference at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. “I don’t think three rounds versus four rounds is what was holding them back.”
Rory McIlroy Wonders If LIV Move to 72 Holes Comes Too Late
The chase for world ranking points has been a major focal point for LIV since its launch in 2022. The OWGR rejected their initial bid for world ranking points in 2023,
“The Board Committee has determined that certain of the concerns regarding the format of how each LIV event is played can likely be fairly managed through an appropriate mathematical formula, which would adjust the number of points and/or players awarded in each event,” the OWGR wrote in a letter to LIV. “These include size of field, number of holes played, and absence of a cut.”
Without world ranking recognition, LIV players have only been able to gain points in a handful of non-LIV tournaments, most notably the majors. LIV players went free falling down the OWGR rankings list, and that’s why McIlroy believes this change won’t make much of an impact.
“I think what’s hard is you’ve got the LIV guys, and say potentially they get world ranking points, but because their strength of fields are going to be so weak because a lot of the guys have fallen already in the rankings because they have not had ranking points for so long, I don’t know if the ranking points are really going to benefit them.”
Does LIV Change Open Door for More PGA Tour Defections?
One potential retort to that is LIV being recognized by the OWGR could open the door for more PGA Tour defections. If LIV could pick off a few top-40 players by offering massive signing bonuses and the improved ability to get points, could that start to tip the scales some? It’s hard to say.
One thing is for sure, though, according to McIlroy. This major change undoes some of the major selling points stemming from LIV’s creation.
“It certainly puts them more in line with traditional golf tournaments than what we’ve all done,” McIlroy added. “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.”
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Rory McIlroy Gives His Take on LIV Golf’s Major Announcement appeared first on Heavy Sports.