Gooch goes into bat for LIV format of 54 holes

Saudi-backed league’s 2023 individual champ says it is more exciting than traditional set-up

Talor Gooch says he would not be in favour of LIV Golf moving to a traditional 72-hole format, calling the number “arbitrary” and questioning if fans want it.

Among the myriad of rumours swirling around the state of the game during the Masters week, alongside claims linking Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland with a move to the Saudi-backed league, were suggestions the team circuit could change its 54-hole three-day approach.

LIV Golf’s format has been the subject of intense debate given it has yet to receive Official World Golf Ranking points, and CEO Greg Norman withdrew the league’s application to be recognised last month.

But for many, the tour’s attraction lies in what makes it different to others around the world, and Gooch, LIV’s 2023 individual champion, said he felt the shortened format made “each day more important and more exciting”.

“We need to focus on the fans,” the 32-year-old said ahead of next week’s event in Adelaide where he is defending champion. “How do we tailor a product and exciting event to the fans; and just my opinion through my experience of 54 holes, it just appears to be more exciting.”

However, Jon Rahm, who joined LIV at the start of the year, said he “definitely wouldn’t mind going back to 72 holes”, while Phil Mickelson said he “wouldn’t be surprised if some or all of LIV events went to 72”.

While Gooch said there was “no question” that playing more golf over the course of the season separated the best from the rest, he said suggesting a tournament had to be 72 holes because “it’s the way it’s always been” was not a good enough reason.

“It’s just funny to me, this arbitrary number of 72. Why is it not 90? Why is it not 108?

“Everyone’s talked about world ranking points and all this stuff, but no one’s talked about what do the fans enjoy more? 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 obviously has his own reasons for liking the current format, with Adelaide one of three titles, alongside those in Singapore and Andalusia, he won last year. The Smash GC team member has yet to recapture his winning form this season, with a tie for second in Las Vegas his best finish.

Gooch backed up his victory in Australia last year with a win in Singapore the following week, and the tournaments are back to back again this time around, with the circuit’s third stop in Asia, after events in Jeddah and Hong Kong, starting on May 3.