LIV Golf has fully embraced the 72-hole, four-round stroke play format. The breakaway tour’s 2026 season-opener is currently underway in Riyadh with the new format. While the ditching of 54 holes brought forth some criticism from players, a few others like Abraham Ancer are accepting of the change.
Players like Bryson DeChambeau, Talor Gooch, Paul Casey and Louis Oosthuizen have openly slammed the Saudi-backed series’ switch to the traditional 72-hole system. However, Ancer came forward on Friday to note that he ‘don’t really mind’ the new format. The 1x LIV Golf winner opined 54 holes was “good enough to figure out who’s playing the best golf.”
The Mexican golfer further dubbed it a ‘sprint’ while the four-day game makes him feel like a ‘steady player.’ He reiterated being ‘cool’ with either format.
Speaking after second round of LIV Golf Riyadh on Friday, Abraham Ancer said, as quoted by ASAP Sports:
“I like both. I don’t really mind. I feel like 54 holes was good enough to figure out who’s playing the best golf. You just feel like it’s a little bit more of a sprint, have a little bit less time for you to make mistakes and come back from them…
But then playing 72 holes, you feel like if you’re a steady player, that would maybe help you rise to the top of the leaderboard. I don’t really dwell on that. I feel like this is my job, and I like playing golf. If I’m playing 54 or I’m playing 72, I’m cool with it; it’s fine.”
LIV Golfers divided as Jon Rahm ‘happy’ with new format
For the unversed, Ancer’s comment came just a day after Torque GC teammate Sebastian Munoz also registered being unfazed by LIV Golf’s controversial format change. The Colombian golfer said the fourth round of golf simply extends the event ‘a little longer.’ While Ancer and Munoz accepted the new 72-hole format, DeChambeau slammed it by stating the players ‘did not sign up’ for the longer format.
The two-time US Open winner’s take was backed by players like Casey and Oosthuizen. Meanwhile, former Masters champion Jon Rahm was more than happy to accept the format. The Spaniard admitted being one of the first players to push for the ditching of LIV’s 54 holes format. The Ryder Cupp claimed that the traditional system, followed by PGA Tour, would make players ‘stronger.’
Jon Rahm said earlier this week, as quoted by ASAP Sports:
“I’m happy about it. I would say I was one of the people that pushed for it. So obviously I’m happy about it. I think the more golf we play, the better for stronger teams and stronger players, and I think it will benefit us four individuals and as a team, as well.”
For the unversed, LIV Golf announced the new format change to get recognized by the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR). Following the move, the Saudi-backed series tournaments’ top-10 players now get awarded with ranking points.
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