\t\t\t\tOne player who may understandably be against LIV Golf\u2019s recent format change has spoken out in the league\u2019s defense. And he had a little poke back at an old PGA Tour rival in the process\u2026<\/p>\n
When the news broke that LIV Golf would be moving to a 72-hole format for each of its events, Tyrrell Hatton revealed that \u201conly three players\u201d<\/a> had initially been in favor of the change.<\/p>\n It\u2019s safe to jump to some sort of conclusion that among the 51 nays were those who publicly expressed that playing less golf was a factor in joining LIV. After all, why would you vote to do more work for the same amount of pay?<\/p>\n Lee Westwood, though, is grinning and bearing it.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s good for the players,\u201d Westwood said<\/a> in an interview with radio station talkSPORT. <\/p>\n Though only a small percentage, as he explained: \u201cSome of the guys focused their whole season around the major championships, and playing 54 holes was putting them at a bit of a disadvantage. I think they wanted to play 72 holes [as] that represented more the major championship format.\u201d <\/p>\n He added: \u201cIt\u2019s good for the sponsors, and good for the fans more than anything \u2013 they get to see another day\u2019s golf.\u201d<\/p>\n One of the reasons mooted for LIV\u2019s decision is that it will help them in their bid to earn Official World Golf Ranking status<\/a>. Westwood, though, isn\u2019t so sure.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s one of the angles behind it,\u201d he said. \u201cI think there were a few different things, [but] world rankings is one of the things on LIV\u2019s mind. I don\u2019t know whether it\u2019s in the criteria or not because there are 54-hole tournaments that got world ranking points before.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I think the boxes that you need to tick with the world rankings, 72 holes probably helps that.\u201d<\/p>\n Westwood was also asked about Rory McIlroy\u2019s comments on LIV\u2019s decision<\/a> to move to 72-hole tournaments.<\/p>\n During his press conference ahead of this week\u2019s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, McIlroy described the announcement<\/a> as \u201cpeculiar\u201d.<\/p>\n But Westwood was having none of it. <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t pay too much attention to what Rory says, really,\u201d he said. \u201cHe\u2019ll change his mind next week.\u201d<\/p>\n