In early November 2025, Scott O'Neil, CEO of LIV Golf, announced a change in the format of the league. And now, this format has come under fire from Bubba Watson. 

The league’s expansion into a 72-hole format instead of the existing 54-hole format, according to Bubba Watson, is not an efficient change. 

A couple of days back, Watson appeared in an exclusive interview with Mirror US Sports’ Sam Frost. The journalist pointed out that LIV Golf was “making compromises for the OWGR.” But was Watson supportive of that? The answer came as a stern “no.”

The two-time major champion reasoned, “I think we should go three days. And there’s a reason why. I think that at the sprint, everybody stays together. When you go four days, you’re going to have some more spread-out leaders. And it just kinda takes away your last round, right?”

Keeping the fans’ perspective in mind, Watson told Mirror US Sports, “When everybody’s close battling, it puts more people in the mix on a Sunday, or the last round on a Saturday, whichever tournament you’re at. So, that just makes it better for the fans when there’s chaos happening.” 

Mathematically, 72 holes increase the opportunity for separation. Take Scottie Scheffler’s eight-stroke wins at the 2025 PGA Championship and the 2025 CJ Cup Byron Nelson, for example.

But 54 holes reduce that effect. With fewer holes and fast-paced gameplay without cuts, all 48 players will remain active and visible through the final round. 

However, Phil Mickelson had a different opinion.

Phil Mickelson Contradicts Bubba Watson With His Take on the 72-Hole Format

“So a lot of teams out here have a lot of firepower, and with 54 holes, steady play isn’t rewarded as much,” Mickelson stated during a LIV presser. 

“I think over the course of 72 holes, with every score counting, steadiness is going to be a factor, and I think that’ll help our team.”

Additionally, he believed that fast-developing young players like Josele Ballester, Tom McKibbin, David Puig, and Caleb Surratt, need a way into the majors to establish themselves. And that’s where the 72-hole format benefits. 

“If it helps and makes a difference between getting world ranking points, then I’m all for it.”

Watson champions chaos and compressed competition, while Mickelson values steadiness and access to world ranking points. Their opposing views expose LIV Golf’s struggle. But what’s your thought on the new expanded format?

Written by

Krushna Pattnaik

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu