As Brendan Steele won LIV Golf Adelaide’s individual title against Louis Oosthuizen on Sunday, Cameron Smith took his Ripper GC team to a playoff against Stringer GC. With the home support of Australia, Ripper GC received a massive shoutout for the 2 vs 2 match. Witnessing that a Twitter handle, Flushing It, raised concerns about fans enjoying the team-play aspect more these days. It further pointed out a bigger concern about whether LIV Golf should change its format entirely to team play and discard individual games entirely.
LIV has its first ever team playoff with Australian Ripper GC vs South African Stinger GC, with Ripper having a significant home field advantage in a 2 v 2 match down the 18th in front of massive Aussie crowds.
This is proving why the league should immediately change format and… pic.twitter.com/C9W1Ld2rRG
— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) April 28, 2024
According to the post, individual events have become monotonous after being followed by every other tour, and if LIV wanted to introduce something new, they’d go completely avant-garde. Fans seemed to shower their diverse notions on the same after the post got attention online.
A fan suggested introducing three more team events and treating those as majors for the LIV league.
I think they should add 3 more team only events for a total of 4 team events. Treat and hype the 4 team events like majors.
— Kenneth Ngo (@kneengo) April 28, 2024
Another fan saw the post on the page as a way of serving the Saudis.
Flushing it, proving his dedication to the Saudis once again.
— KevinOg (@KevinOg82) April 28, 2024
An online follower rightly noted how the fan craze was because of Ripper GC going into the playoffs and having home support. The team aspect wouldn’t have worked out had it been any other team.
Not in agreement here. The excitement of the team playoff is maximized by the home team being in the playoff. If this was the 4 Aces and Smash GC in the playoff, it wouldn’t have the same pull. LIV needs the individual component to be of interest for the best players… ➡️
— John Conrad (@jerichsen66) April 28, 2024
A cybercitizen defended the double format and wanted it to stay the same.
I think the double format works just fine
— Graeme Sparrow (@SparrowGraeme) April 28, 2024
A fan underlined the essentiality of the individual component in LIV Golf.
Only if they merge!… they still need the individual component unless they start a separate individual league or do it through the International Series!
— Andrew johnson (@_Solomonisland_) April 28, 2024
Another fan supported the double format system and wanted the league to continue this way.
No. It needs to be both individual and team. The current format is perfect.
— GSB (@gsbman83) April 28, 2024
The notions clearly show that very few people are inclined to watch LIV Golf play in a team format and most people support the individual format. But the LIV’s individual format follows a 54-hole system with no cut. Recently, LIV CEO Greg Norman shared his desire to change the 54-hole system to a 72-hole one in the near future.
Greg Norman Suggests A Format Change For The Saudi-Backed League In The Future
Greg Norman has been vying to change the individual play format of the LIV league to 72 holes after a significant evaluation of the situation. Players like Jon Rahm wanted this change to come forth right after they joined the league.
Also, because of LIV’s existing format, it has failed to get OWGR ranking points for its players. And, watching his plea for the OWGR get denied again, Norman is perhaps giving the format change some thought.
He joined a presser before LIV Adelaide and talked about the ongoing conversations about the playing system.
“It’s a great conversation to have…There are things that we sit back and look at to see what is the most optimal solution to make this a better and better and better event, and 72 holes is discussed.”
Previously, we’ve seen LIV introduce a promotional event to make the player selection process legitimate. If the format is revamped, LIV events might be given the right to credit OWGR points. And that would help the Saudi-funded league overcome its biggest hurdle to date.
