Everybody is aware of that LIV Golf facilitates 54-hole occasions, just like the PGA Tour Champions.
However main championships, like this week’s Masters Event, are performed over 72 holes—just like different outstanding circuits world wide, just like the PGA Tour.
Therefore, the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR), which helps decide main championship fields, doesn’t award LIV Golf OWGR factors. Different causes, similar to participant relegation and promotion, have performed into this resolution, however the 54-hole construction is one massive issue why.
As such, six-time main champion Phil Mickelson, who additionally helped give LIV Golf some notoriety, predicts a key change will happen quickly.
“I wouldn’t be shocked if some or all of LIV occasions went to 72,” Mickelson mentioned after his ultimate spherical at Augusta Nationwide.
“I don’t suppose it issues both manner. Every aggressive spherical is a chance to progress and get higher. There are guys out on Tour who play solely 36 holes. A whole lot of guys solely performed 36 this week. Each aggressive spherical is a chance to play nicely and compete. I don’t suppose it makes a distinction both manner.”
Curiously, forward of this week’s Masters, defending champion Jon Rahm known as for the same change.
“If there ever was a manner the place LIV may go to 72 holes, I feel it will assist all of this argument quite a bit,” Rahm mentioned.
“The nearer I feel we are able to get LIV Golf to another issues, the higher. I feel it will be for some sort of unification to feed right into a world tour or one thing like that. I don’t know if I’m alone on this, however I undoubtedly wouldn’t thoughts going again to 72 holes.”
In fact, the PGA Tour and LIV Golf stay break up, regardless of stakeholders on both aspect working in the direction of an settlement that will unite skilled golf as soon as once more. As Rahm alluded to, switching to 72 holes might assist velocity up negotiations and set up a brand new construction.
Or, maybe the OWGR comes to acknowledge LIV Golf and award the Saudi-backed circuit factors. If that does occur, it will open up pathways for LIV gamers to earn their manner into main championships, which is at present not a chance.
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By way of. Make sure you take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You possibly can comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as nicely.
