LIV Golf shifts focus to Major championships as Scott O'Neil explains the league's switch to 72 holes

LIV Golf announced a switch from a 54-hole to the standard 72-hole format last month. Now, in a recent conversation, the league's CEO, Scott O’Neil, explained that the move was made with the major championships in mind.

Speaking to Sports Business Journal, O’Neil explained that the decision came from within the league, as players felt the majors set the benchmark in golf, and that LIV events should match that setup.

“Sentiment seems to be that the biggest stage in the world is the majors, and we need to do everything we can to best prepare [LIV players] for the majors... let’s mirror the format and that makes complete intuitive sense to me,” O’Neil said.

LIV has signed big names such as Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Brooks Koepka, but players still have not earned Official World Golf Ranking points in the league’s first four seasons. Since major championships rely heavily on OWGR for their entry criteria, many LIV players have struggled to qualify.

O’Neil said that the new 72-hole format could also help their latest OWGR application, which LIV submitted earlier this year. He mentioned ongoing talks with OWGR chairman, Trevor Immelman, and believed that there’s a chance for progress before the 2026 season, though both sides still need to work through several issues.

The format change will also affect how LIV events will run. The league has used a Friday-to-Sunday, 54-hole setup since it launched. Starting in 2026, tournaments will be played in a four-day structure beginning on Thursdays.

All regular-season events will now be 72-hole stroke play. The team competition will continue as usual, based on combined scores from each team. Shotgun starts will remain part of the format to keep rounds moving quickly, something that LIV Golf considers a key part of its identity.

LIV Golf 2026 schedule

LIV Golf will keep the same number of events in 2026 but introduce two new stops, replacing two tournaments from the previous season.

Here is the full LIV Golf schedule for 2026:

• February 5–7: Riyadh – Riyadh Golf Club, Saudi Arabia
• February 13–15: Adelaide – The Grange Golf Club, Australia
• March 6–8: Hong Kong – Hong Kong Golf Club, Hong Kong
• March 13–15: Singapore – Sentosa Golf Club, Singapore
• March 20–22: South Africa – The Club at Steyn City, South Africa
• April 17–19: Mexico City – Club de Golf Chapultepec, Mexico
• May 8–10: Virginia – Trump National DC, USA
• June 5–7: Andalucia – Real Club Valderrama, Spain
• June 26–28: Louisiana – Bayou Oaks at City Park, USA
• July 24–26: UK – JCB Golf & Country Club, England
• August 21–23: Indianapolis – The Club at Chatham Hills, USA