What is LIV Golf's new format? All changes explored

LIV Golf is all set to implement a new format in the upcoming season following major tweaks. As of 2025, LIV Golf has completed four years of its existence in the golf world since its inception in 2022. Before stepping into the fifth year, the PIF-funded league announced some format changes on its official website.

For starters, the league will have 72-hole competitions for tournaments, which were previously played over 54 holes. Additionally, the tournaments will be played over four days instead of three. But that's not all, and there's more to it.

The league will have 14 events, including individual and team championships, where all 54 players participate. Out of these 54 golfers, 52 players are attached to 13 teams, and two golfers are wild card players.

These players will tee up on Thursday, instead of Friday, in the 2026 LIV Golf events. The top 24 golfers in each event will earn points, and the winner will earn around 40 points in each event. The second and third-place holders will earn 30 and 24 points, respectively. There's a sliding scale of points from 21st to 24th, earning one point each. This was all about the individual competition. But what about the team play?

For the team competitions, the top 8 teams will earn points, with 32 points for the winning team, 24 for the runners-up, and 16 for the second runners-up. There is a sliding scale of points till 8th place, earning one point each.

After the season is over, the golfer sitting atop the individual point list will win the individual title. The top 24 players will be in the lock zone, whereas players between 25 to 48 will be in the open zone, and players below 48 in the drop zone.

For the team championship title, the teams will participate in the season-ender, the LIV Golf Michigan. Twelve teams will participate in six quarterfinals, following which the six winners shall face off at the semi-finals, and the final three teams play in the finals. The LIV Golf team championship will have both match play and stroke play.

On the eve of LIV's new format being implemented, Jon Rahm shared that the 72-hole format is better as it tests players and improves the standard of competition. He said (via BBC):

“Moving to 72 holes is the logical next step that strengthens the competition, tests us more fully.”

LIV Golf’s 2025 season ended with the Michigan event, and the first tournament of the 2026 schedule is LIV Golf Riyadh from February 5 to 7 at the Riyadh Golf Club.

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Which team won the last LIV Golf tournament in Michigan?

Legion XIII, led by Jon Rahm, won LIV Golf Michigan, which took place at The Cardinal at Saint John's, United States. Rahm's side defeated the Crushers GC to win the tournament title. After the event, the Legion XIII captain joined the press conference and shared his playing experience. He said (via ASAP Sports):

“It means a lot. It's been a long year, and we've all been playing really, really well for the most part of the year and coming in as well. To be the No. 1 seed is never easy. Tyrrell pulled us through by sheer determination on that first match against the Cleeks. We played good yesterday. Today the two -- the young squad over here, both of them, carried us in match play.”

At the tournament, the Legion XIII scored 20 under, and Rahm scored 65 under in total. Followed by Tyrell Hatton scoring 66 under, Tom McKibbin shooting 65 under, and Caleb Surratt scoring 64 under in total.

Edited by Riddhiman Sarkar