LIV Golf is adding an extra day of competition to its Team Championship this year, expanding beyond the circuit’s signature 54-hole format. The league will now include a Wednesday play-in match between the two lowest-ranked teams at the season finale.
This adjustment comes after LIV players have occasionally faced ribbing about their 54-hole tournament structure, particularly when they struggle in the final round of 72-hole events elsewhere. Jon Rahm experienced this at last year’s Olympics when he shared the lead through three rounds before posting a 70 on Sunday that dropped him to a tie for fifth.
The play-in format will feature two singles matches and one foursomes match, with the first team to secure two points advancing to the quarterfinals on Friday. It’s a win-or-go-home scenario for these bottom-ranked squads.
LIV has also eliminated the previous bye system for top-ranked teams. Now, all 12 remaining teams will compete in Friday’s match-play bracket, with six winners moving on to Saturday’s semifinals. The final three teams then advance to Sunday’s stroke-play finale to determine the champion.
There’s another strategic wrinkle being added: captains of higher-seeded teams will gain a tactical advantage by seeing their opponent’s lineup before each match-play session, allowing for more strategic pairings.
The LIV Golf Team Championship is set for August 22-24 at Saint John’s Resort in Plymouth, Michigan.
