PGA Tour should fear LIV Golf

By Neville Idour

“LIV Golf won’t survive. It won’t gain any traction against the established PGA Tour.”

Such were some of the many predictions when LIV Golf first reared it's head.

Where are those predictions today? Recent announcements of changes by LIV Golf for the 2026 season would indicate LIV is here to not only stay but become a real threat to the dominance of the PGA Tour.

Let’s face it, there are many in the golf industry who would love that. The change to a 72-hole format for 2026 is a huge step to recognition from the official world golf rankings to give LIV Golf players deserved world ranking points.

If they do receive this, certain players are more likely to join LIV golf. Xander Schaufele is an excellent example as his father has claimed that the main reason his son didn’t join LIV was because of the lack of world ranking points.

Liv Golf chief executive Scott O’Neil said: “We are seeing upward momentum from Hong Kong to Adelaide to Indianapolis and that heightened interest opens the door to add another day of golf.

LIV Golf Indianapolis - Day Three
WESTFIELD, INDIANA - AUGUST 17: Scott O'Neil, LIV Golf CEO, walks to the driving range on day three of LIV Golf Indianapolis at The Club at Chatham Hills on August 17, 2025 in Westfield, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

``This marks a pivotal new chapter for LIV Golf that strengthens our league and challenges our elite field of players.”

The team competition will remain unaltered. Shotgun starts will remain. However further changes are expected to their format ahead of the 2026 season.

So what do the players think of the move? Jon Rahm who has always proposed it said: “This is a win for the league and the players. LIV Golf is a player’s league. We are competitors to the core and moving to 72 holes is the next logical step to test us more fully. The growing galleries from last season probably indicate this is what the fans want.”

Bryson DeChambeau added: “Everyone wants to see the best players competing against each other, especially in the majors, for the good of the game. This shows how LIV Golf listens and adapts. This is a fantastic move.”

Joaquin Niemann said: “Moving to 72 holes means more competition which is what we want. I’m excited for it.”

Said Dustin Johnson: “It’s a great move. I’ve always liked the grind of four rounds – it gives the best players a chance to rise to the top. LIV Golf has been a great experience from the start and I think this makes it even better for the fans and for us.”

The 2025 season was the best yet with record attendances, partnership revenues and television audiences. The global audience reached new highs with nearly 90 per cent year over year growth since the partnership with Fox Sports. This lifted live viewership in the USA alongside global broadcast reach to almost 900 million households across more than 200 countries.

It is interesting to go back to 2022 and an interview Greg Norman had with the newspaper New York Post. Norman highlighted how the PGA Tour made a fatal mistake which opened the door for LIV to flourish.

“We will immediately focus on a market the PGA Tour has ignored. They are not playing regularly in New York, New Jersey, Chicago or Boston which is insane. So we wanted to make sure that we brought our product to this market.”

Some of the best old traditional golf courses are situated in the north east of the United States and neglecting that area was “criminal” according to one source. So Norman led the move to hold events in Chicago, New Jersey and Boston in the last few years.

Another factor playing in LIV’s favour is their relationship with the burgeoning influence of the Asian Tour which is flexing it's muscles on the international scene.

Asian Tour chief executive Cho Minn Thant is now a key influencer in men’s professional golf. He has been involved in the launching of the International Series which features nine events on the Asian Tour yearly schedule. The Asian Tour is halfway through a 10 year deal with Saudi Arabia's soveriegn wealth fund the Public Investment Fund which was funding the International Series initially when there was not a lot of local sponsorship.

They have title sponsors and presenting sponsors now. The Asian Tour would ideally like the balance to be one third International Series and two thirds regular events. The earning power of players has improved since pre-covid times. Sixtieth on the order of merit used to earn $US55,000. Now it is $US115,000. Two players from the International Series rankings now earn a place on LIV Golf.

Surviving covid was difficult. Thant said: “We did have to make a change. Either work with the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour more closely for their support, or do something completely new and work with PIF. I’m glad we made the right choice and I think the players truly agree with us.

So it can only be healthy for the International golf scene to have another strong player, the Asian Tour making it's presence felt along with LIV Golf. Much as it will stick in the craw of Greg Norman’s many detractors (some might read haters), his vision for an international golf tour and LIV Golf could play out just as he planned in the next few years. Especially if they succeed in gaining world ranking points which is looking increasingly likely.

Whatever the outcomes and while he may no longer be LIV Golf chief executive, Norman will always be remembered as the driving force to establish the fledgling LIV Golf Tour. We live in interesting times for golf.