It is hard to imagine that LIV Golf are fooling anyone when they describe the league as a startup given the vast sums of money they have been able to invest in their first four years in existence.

LIV Golf managed to completely upset the apple cart after they launched in 2021. There was a time when it really did appear that LIV had the potential to overtake the PGA Tour, with many big names making the jump to the breakaway league.

The signing of Jon Rahm in December 2023 looked to have the potential to be a game-changer. However, as thoughts turn to the 2026 season, it appears to be fair to say that LIV’s momentum has stalled quite considerably.

LIV have lost a lot of money. And it is hard to know where they will go from here. The big names who previously rejected LIV will have surely seen little to convince them into a change of heart.

LIV need to finally find their identity.

At some stage, the shouting has to be replaced with substance.

LIV Golf need to make a big change to the format

The league has certainly provided an alternative to the PGA Tour. Their tournaments are played over 54 holes rather than 72. Their rounds begin with a shotgun start. And there is a team format.

Nevertheless, it does not appear that LIV is taking off with golf fans. And perhaps the reason is just how much they try to do in one go.

LIV are not going to move away from 54-hole tournaments. It would potentially require a name change if they did. The shotgun start is also arguably less of an issue than some make out, with the eventual winner usually finishing on the 18th hole anyway.

But combining the individual and the team events makes everything extremely muddled.

No one will be able to convince a viewer that the players care anywhere near as much about their team’s result. Tyrrell Hatton admitted Legion XIII’s win at LIV Golf UK in 2024 did nothing to soften the blow of losing out to Jon Rahm in the individual tournament.

Those comments said a lot about what is really important.

But perhaps LIV can still have their cake and eat it. Perhaps they can make a change which gives their events more credibility.

LIV need to add a Thursday round to their tournaments. That Thursday round should be an 18-hole shootout for the team title each week – much like a sprint race in Formula One.

From Friday, they can then have their 54-hole events where the only focus is the individual crown. They can put the team aspect to one side and concentrate fully on themselves – as they probably already do.

How LIV Golf adding a fourth round could help their players at the major championships

It has not helped LIV Golf that just two players have won a major since making the jump. Brooks Koepka won the 2023 PGA Championship, while Bryson DeChambeau was victorious at the US Open the following year.

No player has won their first major title since joining LIV. That will change at some point. However, it does not reflect well on the league that their biggest revelation, Joaquin Niemann, has just one top 10 in the majors across his career.

Ultimately, the courses LIV events are played on do not help. Few arguably resemble a major championship test.

But surely, the fact that their players are playing 54 holes does not help either. A major championship is a marathon; where pacing is absolutely crucial.

Playing 72 holes – even if the focus completely changes after the first round – will almost certainly boost the chances of Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau or Joaquin Niemann subsequently contending in the majors.

If LIV have more of their players winning majors, that will help the league convince targets to join.

Switching to events with four rounds will not solve all of LIV Golf’s issues. But it will certainly be a big step in the right direction.