Masters: Phil Mickelson foresees LIV Golf change, extra main bids

Everybody is aware of that LIV Golf facilitates 54-hole occasions, just like the PGA Tour Champions.

However main championships, like this week’s Masters Match, are performed over 72 holes—just like different outstanding circuits around the globe, just like the PGA Tour.

Therefore, the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR), which helps decide main championship fields, does not award LIV Golf OWGR factors. Different causes, equivalent to participant relegation and promotion, have performed into this resolution, however the 54-hole construction is one huge issue why.

As such, six-time main champion Phil Mickelson, who additionally helped give LIV Golf some notoriety, predicts a key change will happen quickly.

“I wouldn’t be shocked if some or all of LIV occasions went to 72,” Mickelson stated after his closing spherical at Augusta Nationwide.

“I don’t assume it issues both manner. Every aggressive spherical is a chance to progress and get higher. There are guys out on Tour who play solely 36 holes. A number of guys solely performed 36 this week. Each aggressive spherical is a chance to play properly and compete. I don’t assume it makes a distinction both manner.”

Photograph by Glyn Kirk/Getty Pictures

Curiously, forward of this week’s Masters, defending champion Jon Rahm known as for the same change.

“If there ever was a manner the place LIV may go to 72 holes, I feel it might assist all of this argument so much,” Rahm stated.

“The nearer I feel we will get LIV Golf to another issues, the higher. I feel it might be for some form of unification to feed right into a world tour or one thing like that. I don’t know if I’m alone on this, however I positively wouldn’t thoughts going again to 72 holes.”

In fact, the PGA Tour and LIV Golf stay cut up, regardless of stakeholders on both aspect working in direction of an settlement that may unite skilled golf as soon as once more. As Rahm alluded to, switching to 72 holes could assist velocity up negotiations and set up a brand new construction.

Or, maybe the OWGR comes to acknowledge LIV Golf and award the Saudi-backed circuit factors. If that does occur, it might open up pathways for LIV gamers to earn their manner into main championships, which is at present not a risk.

Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By way of. You’ll want to take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You possibly can observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.