Less than two weeks after Jon Rahm said he would like to see LIV Golf change its format from 54 to 72 holes, one of LIV’s other top players is holding strong that 54 holes makes a better product for fans.
In a media call this week ahead of LIV Golf’s events in Adelaide (April 26-28) and Singapore (May 3-5), Talor Gooch said the focus should be on spectators.
“Everyone’s talked about World Ranking points and all this stuff, but no one’s talked about what do the fans enjoy more?” said Gooch, the defending champion at the next two tournaments. “People want something that’s going to be more exciting. And I personally think that the 54 holes is more exciting for the fans.”
Gooch achieved victory three times on the LIV last year.
However, since he did not participate in any events awarding World Ranking points or qualify through other means, he did not qualify for the Masters. Currently, he is not registered for any of the major events in 2024.
LIV Golf did not receive World Ranking points primarily because of its three-round format and limited accessibility. Consequently, LIV decided to retract its request for points.
It seems amusing to me, this random number 72,” Gooch commented during the conversation. “Why couldn’t it be 90? Or 108? We simply chose to designate that specific number, but why?”
Before the Masters tournament last week, Rahm mentioned to BBC Sport that transitioning to a 72-hole format could potentially bridge the gap in golf, specifically in regard to the upcoming merger.
Rahm had already expressed his dislike for the 54-hole format prior to joining LIV.
Rahm stated that extending LIV Golf to 72 holes would greatly improve the ongoing debate. He believes that aligning LIV Golf with other initiatives would be beneficial and could potentially lead to a world tour. Rahm expressed his openness to returning to 72-hole tournaments.
On Sunday, Phil Mickelson commented that he wouldn’t be shocked if all LIV events were extended to 72 holes, following his T43 finish at the Masters. Despite being asked if 54 holes was more manageable for him at his age of 53, Mickelson expressed no preference.
I’m uncertain because it’s like a sprint,” he explained. “If you don’t perform well on the first day, you’ll be at a big disadvantage and it’ll be difficult to catch up. However, in a 72-hole tournament, you have more time to adjust and fight back if you struggle on the first day.
You can aim to maintain a steady performance and then make up for it. It could go either way. It all comes down to the specifics of the format.”
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