**Lee Westwood Hits Back at Rory McIlroy Over LIV Golf’s Switch to 72 Holes**
Lee Westwood has responded to Rory McIlroy’s criticism of LIV Golf’s recent decision to extend its tournament format from 54 holes to 72 holes starting in 2026. The change is part of the Saudi-backed league’s efforts to align itself more closely with traditional professional golf formats.
Speaking on talkSPORT’s Breakfast Show, Westwood dismissed McIlroy’s opinion and suggested that the world No. 2 frequently changes his stance on issues.
“I don’t know. I don’t pay too much attention to what Rory says, really. He’ll change his mind for next week,” the Englishman said.
McIlroy, who has long been critical of LIV Golf, described the switch as “peculiar” ahead of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Yas Links. He argued that moving to four rounds goes against LIV Golf’s original concept of differentiating itself from the PGA and DP World Tours.
“I think it’s a peculiar move. I think they could have got ranking points with three rounds. I don’t think three rounds versus four rounds is what was holding them back,” McIlroy stated earlier this week.
He added, “It certainly puts them more in line with traditional golf tournaments than what we’ve all done. It brings them back into not really being a disruptor and sort of falling more in line with what everyone else does.”
The shift to 72 holes is reportedly aimed at helping LIV Golf players earn Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points, something they have been unable to do since joining the breakaway league in 2022. This change also breaks from LIV’s core identity, as “LIV” stands for 54 in Roman numerals, representing the number of holes played in each event.
**Lee Westwood Defends LIV Golf’s Format Change**
While McIlroy remains unconvinced, Westwood sees the move as a positive development for the sport.
“I think it was good for the players, good for the sponsors. And good for the fans more than anything. They get to see another day’s golf,” Westwood commented.
He highlighted that several players on the circuit had been asking for a longer format, feeling that 54-hole events left them underprepared for major championships. Extending tournaments to 72 holes, he said, would make competition tougher and bring LIV Golf’s structure in line with the biggest events in professional golf.
Since LIV Golf’s launch, only two major titles have been won by its players: Brooks Koepka’s 2023 PGA Championship and Bryson DeChambeau’s 2024 U.S. Open. Westwood believes adopting the 72-hole format could help bridge the gap between LIV Golf players and the broader professional golf community.
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*Edited by Sonali Verma*
https://www.sportskeeda.com/golf/news-lee-westwood-takes-jibe-rory-mcilroy-latter-s-comments-liv-golf-adopting-72-hole-format
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