Bryson DeChambeau never expected to compete in 72-hole tournaments when he joined LIV Golf. The league’s name itself reflects its original concept, as “LIV” represents the Roman numeral for 54—symbolizing the three-round, 54-hole format that distinguished the tour from traditional golf events. However, beginning this season, league executives led by Scott O’Neil introduced a major change, expanding tournaments to 72 holes. The adjustment has not been well received by DeChambeau, who has openly expressed his frustration with the new structure.
During a press conference ahead of the 2026 LIV Golf event in Singapore, DeChambeau explained how the previous format suited his style of play far better. According to him, the three-round setup created a fast-paced, aggressive environment where players had to attack the course from the start.
He described the 54-hole tournaments as feeling like a sprint rather than a marathon. Because there were fewer holes to recover from mistakes, players were forced to take risks and play aggressively throughout the event. A single bogey or double bogey could significantly damage a player’s chances because there was little time left to make up ground.
With tournaments now stretched to four rounds, DeChambeau believes that sense of urgency has been reduced. The additional round allows players more opportunities to recover from errors, which changes the overall competitive dynamic. While he did not criticize the change outright in harsh terms, his comments made it clear that he prefers the previous format.
Despite his dissatisfaction, DeChambeau said he has tried to maintain the same mindset he used during the 54-hole events. His goal is to keep approaching tournaments with the same aggressive mentality, as if the competition were still a three-day sprint.
He explained that maintaining that intensity helps him prepare mentally for major championships. By attacking the course from the very first hole and treating each round with urgency, he believes he can stay sharp and ready for the biggest tournaments in golf.
Even with the shift to 72 holes, DeChambeau continues to play with a full-throttle approach. At the same time, he acknowledged that there are moments where players must balance aggression with caution depending on the situation.
This strategy appeared to work reasonably well for him at the LIV Golf event in Adelaide, where he finished tied for third place. However, the same aggressive approach may also have cost him an opportunity to win the tournament.
The introduction of a fourth round proved decisive at The Grange Golf Club during LIV Golf Adelaide 2026. After three rounds—equivalent to the traditional LIV format—DeChambeau and Jon Rahm were tied at the top of the leaderboard. Under the previous 54-hole structure, the two stars would have advanced directly to a playoff to determine the champion.
Instead, the new format required a fourth round to be played. During that final day, both DeChambeau and Rahm lost momentum and were unable to maintain their leading positions.
The extra round ultimately opened the door for Anthony Kim, who delivered one of the most impressive performances of the event. Starting the final round five strokes behind the leaders, Kim produced a remarkable comeback by shooting a nine-under-par 63. His outstanding round allowed him to surge past the field and capture the title.
The victory was particularly emotional for Kim, but the outcome might have been very different if the tournament had ended after 54 holes. Without the additional round, DeChambeau and Rahm would have been battling each other in a playoff rather than watching Kim surge ahead.
In that sense, the format change played a direct role in shaping the result of the tournament—something that likely reinforced DeChambeau’s doubts about the new 72-hole structure.