Rory McIlroy will 'change his mind next week' as LIV Golf star Lee Westwood hits back

Lee Westwood has responded to comments made by Rory McIlroy about the proposed changes being introduced by LIV Golf for next season. The breakaway league, which is funded by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF), announced that they it be making a major format change for 2026.

Starting from next year, all LIV events will change from 54 holes to 72 holes and be in line with other professional events on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour. This is despite the 'LIV' logo referencing the 54-hole format in their name in Roman numerals.

It has been suggested that LIV have introduced the proposed format changes to allow players competing on the circuit to earn ranking points with the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) system. Up to now, players on LIV have not been able to earn ranking points in events on the tour funded by Saudi Arabia.

McIlroy described the proposed changes being made by LIV Golf as "peculiar" when asked ahead of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Yas Links. Westwood, a former Ryder Cup teammate of McIlroy's, has now responded to the five-time major champion's comments.

"I don't know," said Westwood in an interview with talkSPORT, when asked about McIlroy's recent comments about LIV. "I don't pay too much attention to what Rory says, really. He'll change his mind for next week."

McIlroy explained with his comments what he believes the impact could be for LIV Golf, changing from a 54-hole to a 72-hole format.

"I think it's a peculiar move," McIlroy told reporters earlier this week. "I think they could have got ranking points with three rounds. I don't think three rounds versus 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. It brings them back into not really being a destructor and sort is of 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. I think what's hard is you've got the LIV guys, and say potentially they get World Rankings, but 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."