LIV Golf loses bid to earn ranking world ranking points at its events

LIV Golf can try again to be included in the Official World Golf Ranking system. They stated that the OWGR’s main goal is to rank the best golfers worldwide, but they believe it cannot accomplish that goal anymore.

LIV Golf is exclusively focused on cash rewards instead of world ranking points. This decision was made by the Official World Golf Ranking board, which found it difficult to compare the performance of the 48-man league with the other 24 golf tours worldwide.

The OWGR refused the request from Saudi-supported LIV Golf. The request was made in July 2022, after the league had already organized two events with 54 holes and no cuts.

LIV responded to the decision with a statement on Tuesday evening that read: “OWGR’s sole objective is to rank the best players across the globe. Today’s communication makes clear that it can no longer deliver on that objective.”

Peter Dawson, chairman of the OWGR board, said, “We are not at war with them. This decision is not political. It is purely technical.”

“LIV players are self-evidently good enough to be ranked. They’re just not playing in a format where they can be ranked equitably with the other 24 tours and thousands of players trying to compete on them.”

LIV Golf can apply again to be part of the OWGR system. However, the board emphasized that turnover, fair access to LIV Golf, and demoting underperforming players are important factors for earning ranking points.

LIV Golf’s statement continued: “Professional golf is now without a true or global scoring and ranking system. There is no benefit for fans or players from the lack of trust or clarity as long as the best player performances are not recognized.

“LIV will continue to strive to level set the market so fans, broadcasters, and sponsors have the assurance of an independent and objective ranking system and the pure enjoyment of watching the best golf in the world.”

Jay Monahan, the commissioner of the PGA Tour, Keith Pelley, the CEO of the European Tour, and Keith Waters of the International Federation of PGA Tours stepped away from the LIV Golf decision to avoid conflicts of interest.

The PGA Tour, European tour, and Saudi backers of LIV Golf are collaborating on a commercial partnership announced in June.

The committee that rejected LIV’s application included leaders from Augusta National, the PGA of America, the US Golf Association, and The R&A. These organizations are responsible for hosting the major golf tournaments that use the OWGR as part of their qualification process.

LIV Golf started in June 2022. Players who joined were not allowed to earn points in the PGA Tour and European tour, except for the majors.

LIV Golf’s first season featured 12 players ranked in the top 50, including British Open champion Cameron Smith, and 24 players in the top 100. However, in the most recent ranking, there are only two players from the top 50 (Smith and PGA champion Brooks Koepka) and only six players from the top 100.

In the current top 100 golfers, some notable absences include Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, and Talor Gooch, who has achieved three LIV Golf victories this year.

“Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, of course they should be in the ranking,” Dawson added. “We need to find a way to get that done.

“I hope that LIV can find a solution – not so much their format; that can be dealt with through a mathematical formula – but the qualification and relegation.”