[Image: Getty]<\/p>\n
Major champion Cameron Smith and the Australian state premier who oversaw the creation of LIV Golf\u2019s flagship tournament in Adelaide have backed the league\u2019s significant announcement that it would move from 54 holes to 72.<\/p>\n
RELATED: LIV Golf to play 72-HOLE(!) tournaments starting in 2026<\/a><\/p>\n LIV Golf was created in 2022 with a series of 54-hole events with no 36-hole cut and shotgun starts. The league\u2019s name \u201cLIV\u201d was derived from the Roman numerals for \u201c54\u201d and was heavily linked with its image. Months out from its fifth season, LIV\u00a0Golf\u00a0officials announced on Wednesday that the circuit would expand to 72-hole events starting in 2026.<\/p>\n Officials had previously said that 54 holes was a more fan-friendly product although the format was criticised by some and did not resonate with US fans. But the move to 72 holes is likely in line with LIV\u2019s re-submitted application to the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) board for its events to be awarded points. Though the team aspect of LIV was one of the reasons the OWGR board denied the league accreditation when it first applied in 2023, a switch to 72 holes could make its re-application more viable. This move comes in addition to recent changes to expand pathways to the tour via the promotions qualifying school and spots from the Asian Tour\u2019s International Series order of merit<\/a>, in the hopes of satisfying the OWGR\u2019s requirements to offer points.<\/p>\n