LIV golfer Louis Oosthuizen believes the official world golf rankings are inaccurate and disproportionately compares LIV players to PGA Tour members, who exclusively earn ranking points.
LIV Golf star Louis Oosthuizen has expressed his disappointment in the official world golf rankings, with rival players still being eliminated.
Golfers moving from the PGA Tour to the new LIV golf tournament have experienced a significant drop in the Official World Golf Ranking. This is mainly because LIV Golf competitions do not award any ranking points.
A notable example of this trend is Oosthuizen, who won the 2010 Open Championship but is currently ranked 390th in the OWGR rankings. Oosthuizen was once ranked 4th in the world. “This is not a global ranking system,” Oosthuizen told Bunkered. “You could say it has more to do with PGA Tour rankings than anything else.
“People feel uncomfortable because you are used to measuring yourself and knowing where you are. It’s not just about being a LIV player. It’s about being a South African player on the Sunshine Tour, being in Asia, anywhere in the world, now you won’t get a ranking unless you’re playing on the PGA Tour.
The South African-born player admitted that most of the world’s top players compete within the PGA Tour structure. However, he argued that the current ranking system disproportionately benefits travel members compared to performance-based criteria.
“They have the best players, but it’s definitely not a fair system at the moment because you can’t tell me that there are 10 or 15 players in LIV who are not in the top 50 or top 40. You have to look at it.”
PGA Tour golfers are pushing for a more significant role in the consolidation agreement between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. According to Bloomberg, these players are actively seeking heightened authority within the newly established entity.
Meanwhile, LIV Golf participants are expressing discontent, and the prolonged finalisation of the deal is adding to growing apprehensions. Oosthuizen is among those impacted by the changes as he enters the 22nd year of his golf career having turned pro back in 2002.
As of 2023, Oosthuizen’s estimated net worth ranges from £821,570 ($1M) to £4,084,965 ($5M). His income comes from tournament winnings, endorsements, and brand sponsorships. Footjoy, Ping, Scales apparel, Titleist, SwitchGrips, NetJets air travel, and SentinelOne cybersecurity currently sponsor Oosthuizen.
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