This morning, the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) dropped a statement that raised eyebrows across the golf world: LIV Golf’s new application for ranking points, submitted on June 30, 2025, is officially under review.
The announcement, delivered by OWGR chairman Trevor Immelman, comes nearly two weeks after LIV’s bid and lands amid a storm of scrutiny over the ranking system’s fairness. With Pro Golf Weekly’s recent articles — one exposing the OWGR’s “broken system” through Justin Thomas’ inflated No. 4 ranking and another teasing a “bombshell” report about a looming Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation into the PGA Tour and OWGR for alleged collusion — the timing feels anything but coincidental.
Is the OWGR scrambling to get ahead of a PR disaster and deflect accusations of bias? Let’s unpack the curious case of this morning’s statement and what it might mean for golf’s fractured landscape.
The OWGR’s Statement: A Delayed Reaction?
On July 11, 2025, the OWGR confirmed it received LIV Golf’s application for inclusion in its ranking system on June 30, with a review process now underway. Immelman’s statement was diplomatic, noting, “We appreciate the interest of LIV Golf—and all Tours—in contributing to the global landscape of men’s professional golf through OWGR.”
The announcement marks LIV’s latest attempt to secure ranking points after its 2023 application was rejected and its 2024 bid withdrawn. LIV’s new CEO, Scott O’Neil, expressed confidence that the application “addresses the outstanding questions” about format and access.
But why the two-week delay? LIV submitted its bid on June 30, yet the OWGR waited until July 11 — conveniently just before the British Open, where its board meets annually — to acknowledge its receipt.
The timing aligns suspiciously with Pro Golf Weekly’s recent coverage, which has fueled speculation about the OWGR’s integrity and its ties to the PGA Tour.
This outlet’s article, “PGA Tour Hype vs. Major Truth: Justin Thomas’ No. 4 Ranking Exposes OWGR’s Broken System,” argued that Thomas’ lofty ranking, despite a lackluster major record, highlights flaws in a broken system that favors PGA Tour players.
Early this morning, we teased an upcoming report alleging the DOJ is poised to investigate the PGA Tour and OWGR for collusive practices, such as denying LIV points to protect the Tour’s dominance.
The Collusion Cloud: Too Convenient?
The OWGR’s sudden transparency feels like a calculated move to counter these narratives. Sources within LIV Golf, as cited in prior discussions, have long accused the PGA Tour of “rigging the game” by leveraging its influence over the OWGR board, which includes representatives from the PGA Tour, Augusta National, the USGA, the R&A, and the DP World Tour.
The legal community has echoed this, with one source calling the OWGR’s process “opaque and conflicted.”
The DOJ’s reported interest, amplified by Pro Golf Weekly’s tease, suggests regulators may be probing whether the OWGR’s rejection of LIV’s points was a coordinated effort to marginalize a competitor, potentially violating the Sherman Antitrust Act.
By announcing LIV’s application now, the OWGR could be attempting to project fairness and preempt accusations of collusion. The OWGR’s statement, paired with Immelman’s neutral tone, feels like an effort to signal openness while the golf world watches for signs of bias.
Stay tuned.
