This is more than a technical adjustment — it’s a strategic move by the Saudi-backed tour, funded by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), aimed at earning Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) recognition — something LIV has pursued for three years without success.

LIV Golf – Challenging the old order

Founded in 2022 with the philosophy “Golf, But Louder”, LIV Golf quickly drew global attention by signing superstars such as Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson, and later Jon Rahm — all through contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

From the start, LIV adopted a 54-hole, no-cut format, featuring 48 golfers divided into 12 teams, with a shotgun start (all groups tee off simultaneously from different holes). The concept was simple: shorter, faster, and more entertaining, aligning with its brand — and “LIV” in Roman numerals means 54. Yet, that same difference became the main reason OWGR — the Official World Golf Ranking — refused to recognize LIV events for ranking points.

 Why OWGR rejected LIV Golf

OWGR, co-founded by The R&A, USGA, PGA Tour, DP World Tour, Augusta National, and PGA of America, serves as the world’s governing body for professional golf rankings.
Its mission is to measure individual performance in fair, comparable environments. LIV’s structure, however, failed to meet several fundamental criteria:

1. Team + Individual Format

LIV combines team and individual competitions — something OWGR argues distorts the measurement of individual performance.
In the OWGR system, each golfer competes independently under identical scoring and ranking conditions.

2. Only 54 Holes and No Cut

Most PGA Tour and DP World Tour events are 72 holes, with a cut after 36 holes to identify the best players moving forward.
OWGR considers this the global standard, as 72 holes better test endurance, consistency, and strategic depth — elements that 54 holes cannot fully reveal.

3. No Open Qualification Pathway

OWGR mandates that events provide open or performance-based qualification routes.
LIV, by contrast, is a closed league, limited to players with contracts or invitations, lacking “open competition” — a key principle of professional golf.

4. Limited Field Size

With only 48 players per event, LIV lacks the statistical depth of traditional tournaments that host 120–156 players.
This small field size skews OWGR point distribution and undermines representative comparison across the global player pool.

5. Shotgun Start – Fair or Unfair?

OWGR argues that shotgun starts are unsuitable for comparative ranking because: They lack consistent hole-by-hole sequencing data, and they eliminate natural environmental variation (wind, sunlight, rain) that OWGR views as part of golf’s challenge.

Ironically, shotgun starts can be more fair in real conditions, since everyone competes simultaneously under the same weather and lighting. In traditional teetime formats, early starters may benefit from softer greens and calmer winds, while late starters face tougher conditions. In essence, OWGR defends tradition, while LIV pursues modern fairness — a philosophical clash of eras.

LIV’s transition toward OWGR compliance

After OWGR’s official rejection in October 2023, LIV quietly began restructuring. In July 2025, it resubmitted its OWGR application and announced plans to adopt the 72-hole format starting in 2026.
In a statement, CEO Scott O’Neil said:

“The move to 72 holes marks a pivotal new chapter for LIV Golf — strengthening our league, challenging our elite field, and delivering more of the world-class golf our global fans want.
The best sports leagues — IPL, EPL, NBA, NFL — constantly innovate. LIV Golf is no different.”

Jon Rahm, captain of Legion XIII and one of the league’s biggest stars, added:

“This is a win for both the players and the league. We want to compete at the highest level possible. Moving to 72 holes is the logical next step that raises competition and gives fans even more to enjoy.”

Despite the switch to 72 holes, LIV will retain its shotgun start across all rounds — keeping its hallmark pace and energy distinct from the PGA Tour.
Starting in 2026, LIV tournaments will begin on Thursdays, aligning with PGA and DP World Tour schedules. The new season kicks off in Saudi Arabia in February 2026.

Can OWGR keep ignoring LIV?

OWGR now faces growing pressure to evolve. If LIV continues to expand — adding promotion systems, playing 72 holes, and drawing global audiences — its exclusion from world rankings will become harder to justify both logically and ethically.

The question is no longer about golf quality — LIV already features major champions, Ryder Cup captains, and top-20 players — but about philosophy:
Can the golf establishment embrace a new model that’s different from tradition but equally fair and exciting?

The shift to 72 holes isn’t just a technical adjustment — it’s a declaration of intent from LIV Golf:

“We’re not just different. We want to be recognized.”

While the road to OWGR approval remains challenging, LIV is already reshaping the definition of modern golf — merging sport, entertainment, and fairness on a global stage. And so, the question now turns to OWGR:

Will it continue protecting the past — or accept a future that’s arriving faster than anyone expected?

GolfEdit.com