LIV Golf has been a major talking point in the world of golf since its launch in 2022 – persuading some of the sport’s biggest stars to leave the PGA Tour behind

Phil Mickelson believes 72-hole tournaments could be the way forward for LIV Golf

Phil Mickelson’s proposal to resolve LIV Golf’s Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) issue has been dismissed by Talor Gooch, a fellow member of the Saudi-backed circuit.

Gooch insists that the Saudi-backed league should adhere to its 54-hole format, despite suggestions from Mickelson and Jon Rahm for changes. Since its inception in 2022, LIV has caused a stir in the golfing world by luring some of the sport’s biggest stars – including Mickelson, Rahm, Dustin Johnson, and Bryson DeChambeau – away from the PGA Tour.

These players have received substantial compensation for joining the breakaway league, which is financed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). The PGA Tour and PIF are currently in discussions about a potential merger to reunify the sport, but no agreement has been reached yet.

Many initial critics of LIV, such as Rory McIlroy, have since softened their stance on the contentious circuit, which suggests it’s here to stay. However, LIV’s CEO Greg Norman is still striving to gain recognition from the OWGR.

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OWGR points are crucial for golfers to ascend the rankings and automatically qualify for major tournaments. Several high-profile stars risk missing out on some of this year’s biggest competitions due to their falling rankings.

Sergio Garcia, for instance, participated in last week’s Masters as a past champion but is not anticipated to compete in the Open Championship, the PGA Championship, or the US Open due to his low ranking. Meanwhile, golfers like Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood are expected to miss all four major tournaments this year.

A number of fans have expressed their desire for LIV to extend its tournaments from 54 to 72 holes to address its OWGR problem, transitioning from three-day to four-day events. Mickelson said at the Masters: “We’ve got mini-tours playing 54, Champions Tour playing 54. I wouldn’t be surprised if some or all of LIV events went to 72. I don’t know, but it doesn’t matter. I enjoy the competition.”