Phil Mickelson Makes Boldest Claim Yet That LIV Golf May Change Its Format

While he has yet to compete for a title in LIV Golf, Phil Mickelson is one of the faces of the league – being the first big-name golfer to join before its first event in June 2022.

Since that event in London nearly two years ago, every LIV Golf event has been a three-round, 54-hole affair. That’s one of the alleged reasons that it has been so difficult for the circuit to attain Official World Golf Ranking status.

Plenty of golfers, including Jon Rahm, have tossed around the idea of LIV expanding to a traditional four-day, 72-hole tournament to bolster its OWGR case.

Phil Mickelson: “I wouldn’t be surprised if some or all LIV events went to 72 [holes]. I don’t know, but it doesn’t matter.”

— John Turnbull (@JohnTurnbull03) April 14, 2024

After playing 72 holes at Augusta National, where he finished tied for 45^th after a runner-up finish last year, Mickelson talked about LIV venturing into the four-round space.

“Every competitive round is an opportunity to play well and compete,” Mickelson said after his final round on Sunday. “I don’t think it makes a difference either way. A lot of guys only play 36 this week. We’ve got mini-tours playing 54, Champions Tour playing 54. I wouldn’t be surprised if some or all of LIV events went to 72. I don’t know, but it doesn’t matter. I enjoy the competition.”

Mickelson also spoke about the disadvantage that a 54-hole event brings.

“You have to play well the first day or you’re so far behind that it’s hard to catch up, whereas in 72 you can kind of work your way into the tournament and fight if you don’t have it the first day, fight to keep it around par then make up ground. It could go either way. It’s just the nuances of a different format,” Mickelson said.

The case against LIV and OWGR status included not being 72 holes, not having a cut, and not having a feeder system to qualify for its events. LIV events still don’t have a cut, but they did hold a Q-school of sorts last December to fill out the final handful of slots on its 2024 roster.

Cover Image via Golf