According to Talor Gooch, the 54-hole format of LIV Golf should be maintained because it is more thrilling for the spectators.
Even though Phil Mickelson and Jon Rahm have suggested that LIV Golf should expand events to four rounds, Talor Gooch disagrees, stating that spectators find 54-hole competitions to be more thrilling.
Playing just 54 holes was one of the key selling points for LIV Golf when Greg Norman unveiled the Saudi-backed venture into the golfing world, along with the shotgun start and team format.
Rahm, who has never been a fan of 54 holes, agreed with Mickelson when he said that he “wouldn’t be surprised if some or all of LIV events went to 72.”
A fresh signing for LIV “I think it would help all of this argument a lot if there ever was a way where LIV could go to 72 holes,” Rahm said to Iain Carter of BBC Sport.
“It would be beneficial if we could bring LIV Golf closer to some other things. I believe it would be for a world tour or something similar to feed into some sort of unification. I’m not sure if I’m the only one, but I would really enjoy returning to 72 holes.”
Gooch, the three-time event winner from last year and the 2023 individual LIV champion, disagrees, claiming that golf fans will find the shorter format to be more thrilling to watch.
Ahead of the forthcoming LIV Golf tournaments in Adelaide and Singapore, where he is the defending champion, Gooch stated, “We need to focus on the fans,” during a media call.
“How do we cater an exciting event and product to the fans? Based on my personal experience with 54 holes, it seems like it would be more thrilling.”
Gooch, who is currently ranked 10th in the individual LIV Golf standings, continued, saying, “This arbitrary number of 72 just seems funny to me.” What prevents it from being ninety?
“Why does it not equal 108? Why did we choose to make that number the number in the first place?”
One reason for considering extending LIV Golf events to 72 holes is the pursuit of Official World Golf Ranking points, but according to Gooch, that would disregard the demands of the spectators.
“World ranking points and other such things have been discussed by everyone, but what do the fans find more enjoyable?
“People are looking for something more thrilling. Furthermore, I believe that the 54 holes provide more excitement for the spectators.
Gooch clearly loves the 54-hole format because he won two of his three tournaments last year back-to-back in Adelaide and Singapore.
The 32-year-old joined Brooks Koepka’s Smash GC team this season, but he hasn’t been able to secure a victory. Perhaps a trip back to Australia will help.
Managing expectations has been a problem, he continued, because Gooch is one of the favorites for every event following a fantastic season the previous year.
Before making his way back to Adelaide, Gooch remarked, “You have different expectations because you’ve obviously performed well in Australia.”
You simply need to learn how to let go of those expectations and just lock in because you can’t win the golf tournament on the first day. I’m looking forward to the challenge of attempting to defy those expectations.
