According to published reports, LIV Golf will not receive Official World Golf Ranking points.
OWGR reportedly sent a denial letter to LIV Golf earlier today, explaining the decision.
In a letter sent to LIV Golf executives, Peter Dawson, OWGR president, wrote: “The Board Committee met recently to again review your OWGR submission in light of your latest responses to the Committee’s questions and concerns. At the meeting, the Board Committee unanimously determined that at this time the LIV Tour will not be recognized as an Eligible Golf Tour in the OWGR system.”
Dawson told media allies that it had no bias towards LIV Golf.
“This is entirely technical. OWGR has no hostility toward LIV whatsoever,” Dawson was quoted in several publications.
Without the ability to earn world-ranking points since 2022, most LIV golfers have plummeted in the rankings, and will be completely shut out of major championships in 2024.
For instance, when LIV was launched in 2022, twenty-eight (28) of its players were ranked inside the top 50. Today, only two players are ranked inside the top 50: Cam Smith (15) and Brooks Koepka (18).
Longtime world No. 1 Dustin Johnson, who has won three times on the LIV tour, has fallen to No. 121, while two-time LIV winner Bryson DeChambeau is at 132.
LIV Golf Responds to OWGR’s Decision
“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.
“Players have historically remained subject to a single world ranking to qualify for Major Championships, the biggest events, and for corporate sponsor contract value. A ranking which fails to fairly represent all participants, irrespective of where in the world they play golf, robs fans, players and all of golf’s stakeholders of the objective basis underpinning any accurate recognition of the world’s best player performances. It also robs some traditional tournaments of the best fields possible.
“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.”