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Major champion Cameron Smith and the Australian state premier who oversaw the creation of LIV Golf’s flagship tournament in Adelaide have backed the league’s significant announcement that it would move from 54 holes to 72.
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LIV Golf was created in 2022 with a series of 54-hole events with no 36-hole cut and shotgun starts. The league’s name “LIV” was derived from the Roman numerals for “54” and was heavily linked with its image. Months out from its fifth season, LIV Golf officials announced on Wednesday that the circuit would expand to 72-hole events starting in 2026.
Officials had previously said that 54 holes was a more fan-friendly product although the format was criticised by some and did not resonate with US fans. But the move to 72 holes is likely in line with LIV’s re-submitted application to the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) board for its events to be awarded points. Though the team aspect of LIV was one of the reasons the OWGR board denied the league accreditation when it first applied in 2023, a switch to 72 holes could make its re-application more viable. This move comes in addition to recent changes to expand pathways to the tour via the promotions qualifying school and spots from the Asian Tour’s International Series order of merit, in the hopes of satisfying the OWGR’s requirements to offer points.
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Asked about the expansion to four rounds, 2022 Open champion, and three-time LIV winner, Smith welcomed the news.
“72 holes strengthens LIV Golf and lifts all of us,” Smith, who captains the all-Australian team Ripper GC, said. “We’re creating more golf for the fans, more opportunity, more exposure, and more momentum for every player and team.”
LIV Golf Adelaide became unequivocally the league’s highest attended and most successful tournament, with more than 100,000 fans through the gates. Its party atmosphere and several big moments helped the tournament’s momentum, such as Chase Koepka’s 2023 ace at the tournament’s party hole which went viral on sports TV networks around the world.
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas was integral in securing the tournament to Adelaide, which had been held at The Grange. South Australia signed an extension to keep the tournament through 2031.
“This is excellent news for LIV Golf Adelaide; it means more fans will get to experience the world’s greatest golf tournament, in one of the world’s great cities,” Malinauskas said Wednesday. “It fits with our ambition to continue to grow this event, which this year alone delivered an $81.46 million benefit to the South Australian economy.”
