LIV Golf star has important message for Jon Rahm and Phil Mickelson
LIV Golf's 2023 individual champion Talor Gooch says he's not in favour of the breakaway tour changing their format anytime soon.
Talor Gooch says he's not in favour of LIV Golf changing their format anytime soon.
The breakaway tour's 2023 individual champion spoke to a group of reporters ahead of their event next week in Adelaide.
Aside from reacting to Scottie Scheffler's Masters victory, Gooch was pressed on rumours LIV could alter their format.
Recent LIV recruit Jon Rahm spoke of his desire to move to 72 holes before his Masters defence ended in frustration.
"I don't know if I'm alone in this, but I definitely wouldn't mind going back to 72 holes," Rahm said.
Rahm's comments prompted Phil Mickelson to say he would not be surprised to see LIV move to 72.
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Gooch told reporters that reverting to 72 holes because 'it's the way it's always been' was not a good enough reason.
He said: “We need to focus on the fans. How do we tailor a product and exciting event to the fans?
"And just my opinion through my experience of 54 holes, it just appears to be more exciting.”
Gooch, 32, added: "It’s just funny to me, this arbitrary number of 72. Why is it not 90?
"Why is it not 108? We just decided to make that number the number, for what reason?"
It was previously argued LIV should have changed their format sooner to help with their bid for world ranking points.
But the breakaway tour officially withdrew their application with the governing body in March.
LIV had previously seen their application officially rejected after more than one year of deliberations.
Gooch added: “Everyone’s talked about world ranking points and all this stuff, but no one’s talked about what do the fans enjoy more?
"People want something that’s going to be more exciting.
"And I personally think that the 54 holes is more exciting for the fans.”
LIV Golf Adelaide will be played over 26-28 April at the Grange Golf Club.
Gooch is the defending champion.
In other LIV news, there is rising speculation that Viktor Hovland is the latest PGA Tour the circuit has in their crosshairs.
And Rory McIlroy has emphatically denied a report suggesting he was on the verge of joining for $850m.
"I will play the PGA Tour for the rest of my life," McIlroy said.
Long-time LIV Golf critic Brandel Chamblee believes the whole rumour was orchestrated by LIV officials.
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