Louis Oosthuizen has played in every Masters since 2009, but this time around the former Open champion will miss the opening major of the year due to his fall in the world rankings
Louis Oosthuizen, who is slated to miss his first Masters in 16 years, has demanded that the Official World Golf Ranking be “completely changed.”
Throughout his career, Oosthuizen has made a name for himself as one of golf’s best players, particularly on the major circuit. Surprisingly, the South African sensation has only won one major championship—the Open in 2010—in addition to seven runner-up placements in golf’s four major championships.
One of those near-misses occurred in 2012 at Augusta National, when the former Champion Golfer of the Year lost a playoff match to fellow LIV Golf captain Bubba Watson, and thus missed out on the coveted green jacket.
Twelve years later, Oosthuizen’s decline in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) has left him among a number of LIV stars who will not be able to tee it up at the year’s biggest event. Even though the LIV setup has drawn in some of the biggest names in the sport, such as Oosthuizen, its events have not yet earned world ranking points.
Many of its competitors will miss out on the four main events this year, beginning at Augusta, and Oosthuizen believes that adjustments were necessary as a result. Seeking some much-needed OWGR points, the South African traveled to Oman for this week’s International Series event. Speaking to Gulf News, he stated: “I think the whole system needs to change completely.”
“They should alter the system where Majors are awarded spots on every tour in the world, or something similar, if they are unwilling to award us World Ranking points on LIV Golf. I can’t believe there isn’t a solution to this, as those (OWGR) guys seem to have a lot more experience than me sitting on boards and doing their thing.
The captain of the Stinger GC acknowledged that he will miss competing in the major championships of the sport, but he had anticipated that his switch to Saudi Arabia would result in the major setback. “I knew it was inevitable when I decided to join LIV Golf,” he continued. It’s an amazing experience, so I’ll miss it.
“I really believe that the golf course is a little bit too long for me now, even though it’s a great tournament and golf course.” While Oosthuizen won’t be in Georgia in April, Joaquin Niemann, another LIV star, will. Similar to the South African, Niemann’s standing has declined since he signed a contract with LIV.
The Chilean’s strong start to the season has earned him an exemption invite to the Masters this year, despite the slump. He wrote, “I am very excited about that news,” on the back of his invitation. “It goes without saying that I adore the Augusta National course, which requires both long and accurate shots off the tee. I believe it will serve me well if I continue to drive it well, and I’m excited for that week.
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