The Official World Golf Ranking have announced changes to the way points are awarded, which will affect the PGA Tour’s signature events.
Changes are coming to the way world ranking points are awarded in professional golf events.
The Official World Golf Ranking announced on 21 December the two adjustments will come into effect from 1 January 2024.
The first change will see a ‘new points distribution curve’ that will award greater points to the top finishers in fields where there are 80 competitors or less on OWGR accredited tours.
Ranking points will no longer be awarded to players finishing in the bottom 15 per cent of fields of this size which do not have a cut.
This change will affect the PGA Tour’s signature events, of which there are expected to be fields of 70-80 players.
Massive prize purses are offered in the signature events. They were developed in opposition to the competing LIV Golf League.
Additionally, a few of the Tour’s main events won’t have a cut, a decision that has divided players and spectators.
In 2024, a 36-hole format will be retained only by the Genesis Invitational, Arnold Palmer Invitational, and Memorial.
The second announcement made by the governing body is the introduction of a “multi-win package.”
This will yield the following benefits: “Players who win twice in a 52-week period on any eligible Tour will receive a 60% bonus; players who win three times or more will receive a 70% bonus. A maximum of four points can be earned from any bonus points.”
As a result of the launch of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf, the topic of world ranking points in men’s professional golf has become very popular.
The rival league submitted an application for OWGR accreditation in July of last year, but it was formally turned down in October.
LIV players are finding it difficult to earn spots in golf’s major championships without ranking points.
A lot of golfers and fans have claimed that the ranking system is no longer relevant. The LIV players, according to some, are reaping what they sowed.
Some golf enthusiasts have already theorized that the recently announced changes indicate “the door is opening to LIV.”
Two changes to the ranking system were announced today by the Governing Board of the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).
First, a new points distribution curve will give top finishers in events with fields of 80 players or fewer on all eligible Tours a higher percentage of available points.
Ranking points will also no longer be awarded to players who place in the bottom 15% of the final standings for these non-cut events, with the following notable exceptions.
Furthermore, players who lose all of their matches in a pool format or their first-round match in a match play event will no longer be awarded ranking points.”
The statement went on, “Second, the governing board also introduced a new multi-win benefit that awards players who win three or more times with a 70 percent bonus; players who win twice in a 52-week period on any eligible Tour receive a 60 percent bonus.
A maximum of four points can be earned from any bonus points.
“We recognized these two opportunities to further enhance the OWGR and to accurately evaluate performances of the world’s participating players on all eligible Tours,” OWGR chairman Peter Dawson said, “based on extensive analysis following the changes implemented in August 2022.”
“We carefully evaluate all Ranking adjustments, and we are confident that today’s updates will better position the OWGR going forward.”
The authorized modifications will take effect on January 1, 2024.
Through 2024, OWGR will keep an eye on how both mechanisms are operating and make any additional modifications as needed.
Leave a Reply