Tyrrell Hatton makes revelation about questionnaire to LIV Golf players

Tyrrell Hatton has revealed only three LIV Golf players wanted the breakaway tour to play 72-hole events a year ago. 

The Englishman joined the PIF-backed league in 2024 and reportedly penned a contract worth more than $50m. 

Hatton was ranked 16th in the world rankings when he decamped and, by virtue of strong performances in the majors and on the DP World Tour, has only dropped five spots. 

He won the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in January and was unfortunate not to have won his maiden major championship at the 2025 US Open held at Oakmont. 

Hatton's performances also saw him qualify for the European Ryder Cup team automatically. At Bethpage Black, he once again proved to be a thorn in the United States' side. 

He reprised his formidable partnership with Jon Rahm in the foursomes and contributed 3.5 points to Europe's total. 

Hatton also clinched the crucial half point in his singles match against Collin Morikawa that meant Europe won the Ryder Cup outright. 

He told reporters this week ahead of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship that he was in supportive of LIV Golf abandoning their 54-hole format. 

From 2026, LIV Golf tournaments will be extended to 72 holes, putting them in line with the sport's established tours. 

The change will absolutely bolster LIV's case to be recognised by the sports global rankings body. 

Hatton's European Ryder Cup teammate, Rory McIlroy, said he found the change a little peculiar as the Northern Irishman believed LIV would've got world ranking points with the existing format. 

"I think it's a good thing that LIV have moved to four rounds," Hatton said. 

"I know at the end of my first season, there was a questionnaire that was filled out, and one of the questions was about moving to 72 holes, and I think of everyone that filled it out, I think there was only three guys initially that had said about moving there. 

"I guess that's changed quite a bit in the last year, and certainly from my standpoint, I'm quite happy that we've moved to 72 holes."

LIV Golf's fourth full season gets underway next February. 

The schedule features two new events. 

Watch:

What did Rory McIlroy say?

McIlroy spoke to reporters on Wednesday afternoon, 24 hours after the stunning LIV Golf news broke. 

The 36-year-old said he found the change "peculiar". 

He added: "because I think they could have got ranking points with three rounds. I don't think three rounds vs. four rounds is what was holding them back.

"It certainly puts them more in line with traditional golf tournaments than what we've all done," he added. "It brings them back into not really being a destructor and sort of is falling more in line with what everyone else does. 

"But if that's what they felt they needed to do to get the ranking points, I guess that's what they had to do."

McIlroy also questioned how many ranking points will actually be on offer at LIV Golf events. 

"Because their strength of fields are going to be so weak because a lot of the guys have fallen already in the rankings because they have not had ranking points for so long, I don't know if the ranking points are really going to benefit them. 

"Yeah, it will be interesting to see how it plays out."

Watch McIlroy explain his thoughts here: