Phil Mickelson Unsure About His Feelings Regarding LIV Golf Switching to 72-Hole Format from 2026 Season

LIV Golf will be switching to the traditional 72-hole format from the 2026 season after playing 4 seasons with a 54-hole format.

Phil Mickelson Unsure About His Feelings Regarding LIV Golf Switching to 72-Hole Format from 2026 Season

Phil Mickelson (Image via Imago)

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On Tuesday, LIV Golf revealed a big change that will take place from the 2026 season. The league announced switching from its 54-hole format to a traditional 72-hole format from next year. 6-time major champion Phil Mickelson is unsure about how to feel about this change.

LIV Golf was named after their 54-hole format (LIV stands for 54 in Roman Numerals). Since its inception, the league has received several flak from the golf community regarding their format. Due to them only playing 54 holes, LIV Golf events lasted for just 3 rounds.

Major professional tours imply the traditional 72-hole format and play 4 rounds of golf. For the first four seasons, LIV Golf did not follow this.

However, from the 2026 season, they will also play 4 rounds of golf. In a statement, CEO Scott O’Neil expressed that this decision acts in the best interest of LIV Golf and the sport.

The most successful leagues around the world – IPL, EPL, NBA, MLB, NFL – continue to innovate and evolve their product, and as an emerging league, we are no different. LIV Golf will always have an eye towards progress that acts in the best interest of LIV Golf and in the best interest of the sport.

Scott O’Neil said in a statement

This decision has so far failed to impress the fans on social media. One user on X would then ask Mickelson about his reaction.

The veteran golfer has been highly active on social media and has often given his thoughts regarding various topics. He was engaged in some political discussion when a X user asked him about the new LIV Golf format. The “Lefty” dropped a 4-word reaction and claimed that he was not sure about how to feel.

I’m honestly not sure

Phil Mickelson on X

Mickelson was one of the high-profile names from the PGA Tour who left to join the breakaway tour. A month after withdrawing from the PGA Championship, despite being the defending champion, he would appear at the LIV Golf Invitational London event in June 2022. He and 16 other golfers were then suspended by the PGA Tour.

Jon Rahm’s idea of LIV Golf playing 72 holes comes to fruition

From the 2026 season, LIV Golf will be playing 72-holes. Jon Rahm‘s idea of LIV Golf playing 72 holes has come to fruition.

Jon Rahm of LIV Golf
Jon Rahm (Image via Imago)

The Spaniard was one of the biggest signings of LIV Golf. In December 2023, Rahm stunned the golfing world when he agreed to join the Public Investment Fund (PIF) backed tour on a reported $600 million deal.

The former World No.1 had previously stuck with the PGA Tour. After the merger deal was announced in June 2023, the golfer expressed that he and those who remained loyal to the PGA Tour during the war between the two tours do not need any compensation.

Just months after these words, Rahm left the tour and joined LIV. Following his move, the league expanded to 13 teams with him getting to captain his own team – Legion XIII.

Before the 2024 Masters, he spoke with BBC Sport and expressed that he would not mind LIV Golf going to 72 holes. Rahm, who was the defending Masters Champion at that time, claimed that his new league playing 72 holes would help them get closer to the argument regarding the reunification of the game.

His idea has now come true. While reacting to this development, he called this decision a “win” for the league.

This is a win for the League, and the players… Moving to 72 holes is the logical next step that strengthens the competition, tests us more fully, and if the growing galleries from last season are any indication, delivers more of what the fans want.

Jon Rahm said as per LIV Golf

The 2025 season saw Rahm once again being crowned the individual champion. Despite not winning a single event, he earned more points than Joaquin Niemann (who won 5 times) and edged him out to win his 2nd individual championship title on the 54-hole circuit. He will now be eyeing a three-peat in the 2026 season.

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