LIV Golf made its biggest structural change since launching in 2022, expanding all 2026 events from 54 holes to 72 — and Bryson DeChambeau wasted no time making the new format his own, winning the inaugural LIV Golf South Africa at The Club at Steyn City with a dominant 26-under-par total. His Crushers GC team also claimed the team title, completing a sweep that underscored why DeChambeau remains one of the most compelling figures in professional golf regardless of which tour he plays on.
Why LIV Went to 72 Holes
The 54-hole format was always LIV Golf’s most controversial design choice. Critics argued that three rounds were insufficient to separate the best players from the rest, that it prevented meaningful comebacks, and that it undermined LIV’s credibility as a serious professional circuit. Players within LIV quietly echoed some of these concerns, noting that a bad opening round in a 54-hole event left almost no time to recover — the margin for error was simply too thin.
The expansion to 72 holes addresses all of these issues. A full four-round tournament allows for the dramatic storylines that define professional golf at its best — final-round charges, Saturday moves, and the kind of sustained excellence over four days that separates the great from the good. It also brings LIV’s format into alignment with every other major professional tour in the world, removing a persistent talking point for those who dismissed LIV events as glorified exhibitions.
The field has also expanded to 57 players, up from the previous format. Combined with the 72-hole structure, this produces a more competitive environment that more closely resembles a traditional tour event while retaining LIV’s distinctive team element.
How the Team Format Changed
The team competition, which has always been central to LIV’s identity, received a significant adjustment for 2026. All four scores on each of the 13 four-person teams now count toward the team total in every round — a change from previous seasons where the weakest score was sometimes dropped. This means that every player on every team matters in every round, increasing both the strategic complexity and the pressure on individual performance.
The team event carries a separate $10 million purse alongside the $20 million individual purse, meaning there is $30 million on the table at every LIV event. For context, the PGA Tour’s Players Championship — considered the unofficial fifth major — offered a $25 million total purse this year. LIV Golf’s financial firepower remains unmatched in professional golf.
DeChambeau’s Dominant Performance
Bryson DeChambeau’s 26-under total at Steyn City was a comprehensive display of the power game that has made him one of golf’s most watchable players. The South Africa event marked LIV’s first visit to the country, and DeChambeau treated the occasion as a showcase for his unique approach to the sport — long drives, aggressive lines, and a scientific approach to course management that turns par-5s into birdie opportunities and par-4s into eagle chances.
The four-round format clearly suited DeChambeau. He was able to build his score progressively, weathering a slightly slower start before accelerating through the weekend rounds — exactly the kind of strategic pacing that the old 54-hole format did not allow. His Crushers GC teammates fed off his momentum, delivering strong individual rounds that secured the team title alongside DeChambeau’s individual victory.
For amateur golfers, DeChambeau’s relentless pursuit of distance offers a practical lesson: speed matters, but only when paired with enough short-game skill to capitalize on the shorter approach shots that power creates. DeChambeau does not just hit it far — he converts the scoring opportunities that distance provides. That conversion rate is what separates him from the many long hitters who never contend.
Rahm Keeps Climbing the World Rankings
Jon Rahm, who won LIV Golf Hong Kong earlier in March for his third LIV victory, continued his strong form in South Africa and has climbed back inside the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking. Rahm’s resurgence is significant because it demonstrates that LIV players can maintain world ranking relevance despite competing outside the PGA Tour ecosystem — a question that has dogged the breakaway league since its inception.
The 72-hole format may help LIV players’ ranking positions further. Longer tournaments with larger fields generate more ranking points than the previous 54-hole, 48-player format. For players like Rahm, Cameron Smith, and Tyrrell Hatton who harbor ambitions of competing in major championships, the enhanced ranking opportunities could prove as important as the prize money.
What This Means for Professional Golf
LIV’s move to 72 holes is broadly positive for professional golf as a whole. It removes one of the most common criticisms of the league and makes direct comparison between LIV and PGA Tour performances more meaningful. When a player wins a 72-hole LIV event against a field that includes Rahm, DeChambeau, Cameron Smith, and Tyrrell Hatton, it is harder to dismiss the achievement than it was under the previous format.
The change also signals that LIV is willing to evolve — that it is not locked into its original format for ideological reasons but is responsive to feedback from players, fans, and the broader golf community. Whether this openness extends to eventual reconciliation with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour remains the sport’s biggest unresolved question, but the format change represents a step toward competitive alignment even without organizational unity.
For golf fans, the practical benefit is simple: more golf from the best players. A 72-hole tournament with 57 players produces more competitive rounds, more storylines, and more opportunities for the drama that makes the sport compelling. With the Masters approaching, the form of LIV’s biggest names adds another layer of intrigue to an already loaded spring schedule.
Key Takeaways
LIV Golf has expanded all 2026 events to 72 holes with 57-player fields, its most significant format change since launch. Bryson DeChambeau dominated the first South Africa event at 26 under par, winning both the individual and team titles with Crushers GC. The new format counts all four team member scores in every round, increasing competitive pressure. Jon Rahm has climbed back into the world’s top 50 on the strength of three LIV wins. The 72-hole change removes a major criticism of LIV and makes cross-tour performance comparisons more meaningful as the sport navigates its ongoing structural divide.
