The league that promised something different just folded to tradition.

LIV Golf announced Tuesday it’s moving to 72-hole tournaments starting in 2026, abandoning the 54-hole format that made it unique. The league that launched as golf’s fresh alternative—faster pace, shotgun starts, team competition—is now conforming to the traditional four-round structure everyone else uses.

CEO Scott O’Neil called it “innovation” and “evolution,” comparing LIV to successful leagues like the NBA and NFL. But let’s be honest about what this really is: a forced compromise. When the system won’t adapt to you, you have no choice but to adapt to it.

The OWGR Standoff

This change isn’t about improving the product. It’s about the Official World Golf Ranking, which denied LIV’s application in October 2023. The OWGR cited concerns about the 54-hole format and how team competition might compromise individual results. LIV reapplied in July, and now they’re checking every box the OWGR drew.

Without world ranking points, LIV players can’t easily qualify for majors. And without consistent major championship access, the league faces an uphill battle for legitimacy—no matter how good the golf or how big the prize money. It’s a frustrating reality: politics override innovation.

What the Players Are Saying

Bryson DeChambeau released a statement calling this “a fantastic evolution” and “a proactive step to align with the historic format recognized globally.” He’s right that everyone wants to see the best players competing in majors. That’s what makes this situation particularly disappointing—creativity and new formats are being sacrificed because the old guard won’t bend.

The players took a chance on something different, but the infrastructure of professional golf wasn’t built to accommodate change. Now they’re working within a system that refused to meet them halfway.

The Sad Reality

Here’s what’s frustrating about this whole situation: maybe the 54-hole format wasn’t the problem. Maybe golf’s governing bodies could have been more open-minded about different competitive structures. Other sports innovate constantly, but golf remains stubbornly attached to tradition—even when that tradition might not serve the modern game.

LIV tried to bring something new to professional golf, and instead of the sport embracing experimentation, they got stonewalled. The message is clear: conform or stay on the outside. That’s not good for golf, regardless of how you feel about LIV.

Moving Forward

Shotgun starts and team competition remain. Thursday starts become standard. The 2026 season opens February 4-7 in Riyadh. LIV is now a 72-hole tour that still offers some unique elements, but the signature differentiator is gone.

It’s a shame that the political landscape of professional golf made this change necessary. LIV wanted to try something different, and golf’s establishment essentially said, “Our way or the highway.” Everyone loses when innovation gets squashed by bureaucracy.