Lee Westwood Fires Back at Rory McIlroy Over LIV Golf’s 72-Hole Format Change 😳⛳ | Golf’s Biggest Rivalry Heats Up!
The tension between Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood just reached another level! 😱 After LIV Golf announced a major shift to 72-hole tournaments starting in 2026, McIlroy called the move “peculiar” — but Westwood wasn’t having it. 💥 Appearing on talkSPORT, the former world No. 1 took a cheeky swipe at Rory, saying, “He’ll change his mind next week.”
In this video, we break down everything you need to know about the brewing drama between these two golf icons 🏌️♂️🔥 — including:
👉 McIlroy’s reaction to LIV Golf’s format change
👉 Why Westwood thinks it’s the right move for players and fans
👉 The real reason LIV might be making the change (hint: OWGR points 👀)
👉 What this means for the future of professional golf
LIV Golf’s shift to 72 holes could change the sport forever — but will it finally earn them world ranking points? Or is this just another chapter in the battle between the PGA Tour and LIV? ⚔️
Stay tuned till the end for expert analysis, key reactions from Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau, and a deep dive into how this change could reshape golf’s future. 🌍⛳
📅 Watch now and join the conversation! Don’t forget to like 👍, subscribe 🔔, and share your thoughts in the comments below!
#LIVGolf #RoryMcIlroy #LeeWestwood #GolfNews #LIVGolf2026 #GolfDrama #PGATour #GolfUpdates #JonRahm #BrysonDeChambeau #GolfRivalry #GolfHighlights #GolfTalk #OWGR
Former world number one Lee Westwood has fired back at Rory Mroyy’s remarks about Elivy Golf’s major upcoming change. The move from 54 to 72 hole tournaments starting in 2026. The Saudi backed league confirmed the shift earlier this week, marking its biggest transformation yet since its launch in 2022. And as always, Mroy didn’t hold back when asked for his take ahead of the Abu Dhabi HSBC championship at Yas Links. I think they could have got ranking points with three rounds. Mroy said, “I don’t think the number of rounds was what stopped them from earning OWGr points. It definitely brings them more in line with traditional golf tournaments rather than being disruptors, but I’m not sure if it will help much with the world rankings. It’ll be interesting to see how it plays out. While stars like John Rom and Bryson Dashambo have praised the change, Westwood, who joined L Ivy Golf early in its inception, couldn’t resist taking a playful jab at Mroy during his appearance on the Talkport Breakfast show. I don’t know. I don’t pay too much attention to what Rory says, Westwood quipped. He’ll probably change his mind by next week. Still, the Englishman made it clear that he supports Livy’s decision to switch to the 4-day format. I think it’s a good move for the players, good for the sponsors, and more importantly, good for the fans, he explained. They get to see another day of golf. Westwood also acknowledged that the change could be part of a larger strategy to align with the official world golf ranking, O WGR, system. I think that’s one of the factors behind it, he continued. A lot of the guys plan their year around the major championships, and playing only 54 holes might have been putting them at a disadvantage. playing 72 holes gives it more of a major championship feel. He added that while it’s not certain if 72 holes will automatically earn LIV golfr points, the switch could help tick some of the necessary boxes. There are 54 hole events that used to get world ranking points, but 72 holes definitely helps. Westwood said for the team competition that part of LIIV golf structure will remain unchanged with all player scores still counting toward their team’s total each day. It’s also not yet known whether future LIIV events will introduce a 36-hole cut, though most insiders believe that’s unlikely given the tour’s 54 player field in teambased format. With this move, LIV golf is edging closer to traditional tournament standards. But whether it will earn the elusive OWGr recognition or change Mroyy’s mind remains to be seen.
