LIV Golf has edged closer to the PGA Tour’s structure by moving from a 54-hole format to a 72-hole format. Many believe that this is an attempt to get approval for OWGR ranking points. In fact, many elite LIV golfers, including Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Dustin Johnson, support it and say the move is in the right direction. However, one of the game’s most influential voices remains unconvinced that more holes will solve deeper problems. The World No. 2, Rory McIlroy, says that the move wasn’t necessary.

The 2025 Masters champion leads the DP World Tour Race to Dubai rankings. He is all set to play the first Play-Off event, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. In a media press conference before the event kicks off, McIlroy was asked about LIV’s move. “I think it’s a peculiar move because I think they could have got ranking points with three rounds. I don’t think three rounds versus four rounds is what was holding them back,” said McIlroy.

“Yeah, I don’t — it certainly puts them more in line with traditional golf tournaments than what we’ve all done. It brings them back into not really being a destructor and sort is of 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.”

LIV golfers, on the other hand, are saying that the move was necessary and is a step in the right direction. Fellow Ryder Cup teammate, Jon Rahm, said, “This is a win for the League, and the players.” Rahm was among the first to wish for a 72-hole format in LIV. Right before preparing to defend his Masters title at Augusta National in 2024, he voiced his wishes for this move: “If there ever was a way where LIV could go to 72 holes, I think it would help all of this argument a lot.”

While it was a long-lasting wish of Rahm that LIV fulfilled, other LIV golfers are happy with the move, too. The 2024 US Open winner, Bryson DeChambeau, who is now also becoming a YouTube icon, is all in for the move. “By moving to 72 holes, LIV Golf is taking a proactive step to align with the historic format recognized globally,” explained DeChambeau. Echoing similar sentiments, fellow American pro golfer Dustin Johnson added, “I think it’s a great move for the League and I’m excited for it. Playing 72 holes just feels a little more like the big tournaments we’ve all grown up playing.”

Contrary to these LIV golfers, McIlroy considered the move unnecessary. The career grand slam winner highlighted that there are far more concerning issues holding LIV from receiving OWGR approval. According to him, even if LIV does get approval, it won’t help LIV golfers much.

“Yeah, I think what’s hard is you’ve got the LIV guys, and say potentially they get World Rankings, 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. Yeah, it will be interesting to see how it plays out,” said McIlroy.

This is not the only move LIV Golf is making. Besides moving to the 72-hole format, the league also opened more spots for international stars. They are trying to make the league more inclusive. Thus, the top two golfers on the Order of Merit in Asia will earn a contract with LIV. Similarly, the LIV promotional event will also give away two roster spots.

LIV’s new CEO, Scott O’Neil, is making these moves by learning from mistakes that led to application rejection in 2023.

LIV Golf’s application for eligible tour status by the OWGR was rejected

LIV’s “closed-shop” league structure was one of the major reasons behind the rejection. The board said that the league lacked an open qualifying system. Moreover, its structure and format were not conducive to equitably pointing golfers. Unlike traditional tours, LIV kept mostly static rosters throughout the season. Thus, there were limited opportunities for new players to earn their way in. Scott O’Neil aims to mitigate this issue by opening more spots from the promotional event and from the Asia swings.

OWGR Chairman Peter Dawson emphasized that excluding LIV was “entirely technical” rather than political. He added that “LIV’s top golfers have already proved they’re good enough to be ranked,” noting that many of them previously held top spots on the OWGR. However, Dawson said that they are not playing in a format that permits equitable comparison. Issues cited included a lack of relegation/promotion and insufficient field diversity across events.

Therefore, stricter relegation rules are also in place for the same. While Dawson felt bad for LIV golfers, he never regretted the board’s decision to deny them eligible tour status.

As LIV Golf seeks recognition and overhauls its structure, questions remain about whether these changes address the deeper concerns raised by critics. For now, Rory McIlroy’s skepticism highlights the ongoing divide over what truly defines legitimacy in professional golf.