LIV Golf has announced a major change to its playing format for 2026 with the league announcing it would move from a 54-hole competition to a 72-hole event. 

The breakaway Saudi Arabian men’s professional golf tour announced this week it would make the move which will expand the events from three days to four, meaning they will generally start on the Thursday of the event week, rather than the standard Friday. The move to 72 holes brings the tournament more in line with the PGA Tour.

South Australia is locked in as LIV Golf’s home in Australia through to 2031, with The Grange Golf Club (pictured above) in Adelaide once again hosting one of the events from February 13-15 2026, however that date will now be changed to accommodate the new format with it now likely to start on the 12th. LIV Golf Adelaide was awarded the best golf event in the world in 2023 and 2024 at the World Golf Awards and is recognised as one of the most thrilling sporting events.

News of the format change took many in the industry by surprise, none more so than The Grange Golf Club superintendent Rowan Daymond who only found out about it through the league's media release. Despite some initial raising of eyebrows, it will effectively be all systems normal for the 2026 event as it has been with past ones.

“Nothing changes for us from a course preparation point of view,” says Daymond, who will preside over his fourth and likely last LIV Golf Adelaide event before the tournament heads across to Kooyonga Golf Club in 2027. “It’s no real inconvenience and really only affects the periphery logistics around the staff and volunteers. We run the week the same as any other four-day tournament week that we’ve had in the past. The only real pressure that comes with an extra day is another 30,000 spectators across the facility, but it probably won’t make that much of a difference to the turf.

“I certainly wasn’t aware of the change to the format until it came out in the media, but I think it’s a positive change for the players and will be good for LIV. I’m going to enjoy that older style format of the game with the new tournament feel that LIV has.”

From 2027, the flagship event will move to Kooyonga Golf Club (pictured right), situated across the road from Adelaide Airport and 15 minutes from the Adelaide CBD. Kooyonga is perennially ranked among the best courses in the country and currently sits 18th in Australian Golf Digest’s Top 100 Australian courses list for 2024/2025.

LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neill issued the following statement to explain the change: “As we enter our fourth season as a League, the move to 72 holes marks a pivotal new chapter for LIV Golf that strengthens our League, challenges our elite field of players, and delivers more of the world-class golf, energy, innovation and access that our global audience wants. We’re seeing upward momentum and traction from Hong Kong to Adelaide to Indianapolis, and that heightened interest opens the door to add another day of golf while benefiting our fans, players, marketing partners, and our global media partners. The most successful leagues around the world - IPL, EPL, NBA, MLB, NFL - continue to innovate and evolve their product, and as an emerging league, we are no different. LIV Golf will always have an eye towards progress that acts in the best interest of LIV Golf and in the best interest of the sport.”

To access the full LIV Golf 2026 schedule CLICK HERE

Story by Nick Creely/ Photos by Brett Robinson and The Grange GC