Norman ‘open’ on LIV switch to 72 holes Probe urged over China swimmers testing positive

LIV Golf chief Greg Norman says he is “very open-minded” about the Saudi-backed circuit being 72-hole events to better mirror the PGA Tour, with conversations ongoing.

Each stop on LIV is currently a 54-hole tournament over three days, with a “shotgun start” where 18 groups of three players tee off simultaneously on different holes, with no cut.

Former Masters champion Jon Rahm, LIV’s latest big-name recruit, last week called for a move to the traditional 72-hole format used on the PGA Tour.

The Spanish star reiterated the comments in Adelaide, sitting next to Norman. “I think there’s a level of comfort when I say that because it’s a little bit more of what we’re used to seeing in golf,” he said, when asked about the prospect.

“I think it could help a lot of fans’ trust in LIV a little bit more because that’s a lot of the complaints that I see from a lot of people.”

Norman said he was open to the idea. “I think, from LIV’s perspective, we’re very openminded about it, but you’ve got to understand there’s economic impact about putting television on for 72 holes,” he said.

“It’s a great conversation to have. We will continue to have that conversation, going forward. But we sit back and say, what value do we get putting it on television on Thursday?”

Rahm used the analogy of global football to rationalise why 72 holes would be better, pointing to all leagues, no matter where, following the same rules.

“In football, European football, you have the Premier League, you have the Spanish League, you have the German League, you have Serie A, you have the Champions League, the Euro Cup, many other things,” he said.

“The one thing I’ve realised is they all play under the same set of rules. While we play under most set of rules, the one key difference is 72 holes.”

The US Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) has called for an overhaul of the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) and an independent investigation into Chinese swimmers testing positive before the Tokyo Olympics.

Wada continued to reject accusations from Usada chief Travis Tygart that it covered up 23 Chinese swimmers testing positive for prescription heart drug trimetazidine (TMZ), which can enhance performance.

Usada declared that no questions about Wada or China’s anti-doping agency (Chinada) were “satisfactorily answered” in Wada’s news conference earlier this week.

“The selective and self-serving application of the rules we heard about destroys public trust in the authenticity and value of the Olympic and Paralympic Movement,” Usada said.

“Learning that different rules can be applied to different countries sours the commitment of those who are vital to its ongoing viability, including the world’s best athletes, fans, sponsors and the next generation of athletes.”

Wada said it stood by the decision not to challenge Chinada findings that the swimmers had unwittingly ingested the substance from food at a meet, a result accepted by World Aquatics that allowed the Chinese swimmers to compete in Tokyo.

“At all stages of this case, Wada has acted with due diligence and according to the agreed process and rules of the World AntiDoping Code,” Wada said. “Wada reviewed this case professionally and thoroughly, both from a scientific and legal perspective.

“Wada had no evidence to challenge the environmental contamination scenario that led to Chinada closing these cases in June 2021.”

Several of the swimmers won medals at Tokyo, and some of them are set to compete at this summer’s Paris Olympics.

Wada could have taken the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) but Wada president Witold Banka said there was no credible evidence to dispute the Chinada finding. “Indeed, Wada was advised by external counsel that it would lose any appeal at (CAS) based on such a challenge,” Wada said.

“Despite all the attention around this story, nobody has ... produced any evidence that would allow a successful prosecution of these cases.”

Usada chief Travis Tygart alleges a cover-up over China swimmers.

Athletes and the public desperately need ... confidence in the global anti-doping system U.S. ANTI-DOPING AGENCY

However, Usada called Wada’s inaction a “failure” of the entire anti-doping system. “Given we’re on the eve of the Summer Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games, athletes and the public desperately need and deserve confidence in the global anti-doping system headed into these Games.

“An immediate first step to repairing the damage of this cover-up is for governments to appoint an independent prosecutor to review the entire case file of the 23 positive tests and ensure that justice is delivered.”