Since its founding in June 2022, LIV Golf has been pursuing Official World Golf ranking points; however, it seems the league is done waiting after multiple setbacks.
The Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) ranking points are no longer being pursued by the breakaway circuit, according to LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman.
Since their founding in June 2022, LIV has not been recognized by the OWGR, which has caused several of its members to fall in the global rankings. Now that the former world No. 1 has written a letter to players outlining the decision, it looks like Norman and company are done waiting.
According to Sports Illustrated, Norman’s letter said: “We have worked very hard to defend you and make sure that your achievements are acknowledged in the current ranking system. Regretfully, OWGR hasn’t demonstrated much of a desire to collaborate with us effectively.”
The Australian seemed to criticize the OWGR’s preference for the PGA Tour in the note, raising doubts about the system’s validity once more. “The field ratings disproportionately reward play on the PGA Tour, and the rankings are designed to penalize anyone who has not played regularly on a “Eligible Tour,” continued Norman.
This is demonstrated by the fact that, despite their remarkable performances in LIV events, only four players in the top 50 are not members of the PGA Tour: Jon Rahm (3), Tyrrell Hatton (17), Brooks Koepka (30), and Cam Smith (45).
“The OWGR system is designed in a way that makes it practically impossible for you to regain positions close to the top of the ranking, where so many of you belong, even if LIV Golf events were immediately awarded points.”
For players on the breakaway circuit, qualifying for golf’s four majors is the main concern. Currently, the OWGR makes up a large portion of the field for all four flagship events, and over the last two seasons, LIV’s representation at these events has decreased.
Norman stated that the league will “seek meaningful communication and relationships with each of the Majors to ensure that LIV Golfers are fairly represented and golf fans around the world have opportunities to see the best competition possible.” Norman is eager to find a new method to give his players the chance to compete on the biggest stage.
In July 2022, LIV made an initial attempt to apply for accreditation from the World Ranking System, but their application was denied. Norman and associates then made another attempt in the fall of last year, but this time OWGR rejected them because of their 54-hole, no-cut format and the league’s promotion and relegation system.
Among the biggest decliners from the world rankings in LIV is Dustin Johnson, the former world number one, who is currently ranked 266th in the OWGR list after having been in the top 20 when he switched to Saudi Arabia in the summer of 2022.
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