Talor Gooch Rejects Tradition, Claims 54-Hole Format Much Better

Talor Gooch has a penchant for making explosive statements. To his well known “asterisk” that came to light before the Masters Tournament, he has now added strong opinions about the tournament format in the LIV Golf. In this case, not in the form of criticism, but rather the opposite.

In recent weeks, the golfing world has been abuzz with talk of change. Phil Mickelson suggested that it would be no surprise to see an extra 18 holes played. Jon Rahm, at the start of the year, expressed that he “definitely wouldn’t mind going back to 72 holes”. This sentiment echoes a longing for tradition, a return to the 72-hole format that has long been the standard in golf.

However, not everyone agrees with this sentiment. Enter Talor Gooch, a solid star in the LIV Golf circuit, who has a different perspective on the matter. Gooch, who is set for a return to LIV’s only Australian stop, a tournament he won last year, believes that the current 54-hole format is not only sufficient but also more exciting for the fans.

Talor Gooch’s Stand: A Game Changer?

Talor Gooch’s argument is that the traditional 72-hole format is an “arbitrary number” and that the current 54-hole format is “more exciting for the fans. He questions why the number of holes in a golf tournament is set at 72 and not a higher number. His argument is that the fans want something more exciting, and he personally believes that the 54-hole format delivers on that front.

“It’s just funny to me, this arbitrary number of 72,” Gooch said, speaking ahead of LIV Golf. “Why is it not 90? Why is it not 108? We just decided to make that number the number, for what reason?”

“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.”

Gooch’s comments have certainly stirred the pot in the golf world. His perspective challenges the status quo and invites a discussion about what makes the sport truly exciting for its fans. Whether or not the golf world will heed Gooch’s words and consider a move to the 54-hole format remains to be seen. But one thing is certain – Gooch’s bold stance has made him a player to watch both on and off the course.

Talor Gooch is one of LIV Golf‘s top stars. His three individual victories in 2023 led him to win the individual title for the season. Although he has not started off at the same pace in 2024, he has finished well in the five tournaments that have been played on the circuit and is one of the leaders of the individual standings.

Despite this, Talor Gooch is excluded from the season’s majors due to his world ranking. Gooch has stopped playing tournaments that award ranking points (which LIV events do not), which has caused him to drop drastically in the world rankings.