PGA Tour pros weigh in on LIV Golf’s OWGR problem: “Things need to be updated”

LIV Golf decided to discontinue the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) early Tuesday, prompting several PGA Tour players to discuss the issue at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Opinions differed somewhat, but a common sentiment permeated throughout Bay Hill. The player is not confident in the current structure of his OWGR.

“It’s inevitable that things need to be updated or things need to change,” Patrick Cantlay said at a news conference Tuesday.

Matthew Fitzpatrick is currently ranked 9th in the world. I took another stepis advocated. data golf instead of OWGR.

“I don’t think the world rankings are an accurate representation of the game of golf at this point. I don’t really watch or pay attention to them anymore. I don’t think they’re right. So I’m looking at DataGolf. Fitzpatrick explained on Golf Channel’s Golf Today.

“DataGolf, in my opinion, is a better representation of how people around the world play. I think it also shows that there is depth here. We’ve known for years that there’s always been a lot of strength and depth, but I certainly think the ranking side has gone down a little bit lately. It’s skewed a little bit.”

DataGolf prioritizes strokes gained metrics and ranks golfers from all tours, including LIV players. It has emerged as a more accurate ranking for professionals, fans, and media.

Take Joaquin Niemann, for example.

The Chilean won the Australian Open in December, placed fourth at the Dubai Desert Classic in January and has since won two LIV Golf events.

DataGolf lists Niemann as the No. 12 golfer in the world, second only to Jon Rahm among LIV players. Meanwhile, after Niemann’s win in Saudi Arabia last week, he dropped from 72nd to 76th in the OWGR.

“If you look at what Joaquin did this year, he [76th] In the world. I’m not on the policy committee, I’m not involved in the rankings, but this guy has been playing some really great golf,” Will Zalatoris said Tuesday.

Photo credit: Keyur Khamar/PGA Tour (Getty Images)

“Get him special exemption from Augusta National.” [is nice]. There are some really good players, and there are some players who have traveled all over the world and played really good golf. I think it’s really fun to get everyone back together once you get to the majors. ”

Xander Schauffele also congratulated Niemann on receiving the invitation from the Masters.

“I think that makes sense,” Schauffele said Tuesday.

“[The Masters is] It is known as a worldwide event. This is a global deal, a big deal. To be honest, they all are. So I’m happy to see Chileans at the top. ”

And Schauffele acknowledged the talent that exists on the LIV Golf Circuit, which has plucked a number of top players from the PGA Tour over the past few years.

“There are definitely some really good players on the LIV Tour, a lot of players who are in the top 10 and top 25 in the world,” Schauffele said.

Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images

“So they’re kind of unranked right now, but I believe they’re definitely the top-ranked players in the world.”

Three of the past eight major champions currently play at LIV Golf, including Brooks Koepka, who became the first active LIV player to win a major at last year’s PGA Championship at Oak Hill. .

Fitzpatrick echoed this sentiment.

“[The OWGR is] We’re missing a lot of top players,” Fitzpatrick added on Golf Today.

“I don’t think it’s right to keep these players out of the world rankings. I don’t even know who Dustin Johnson is. Who is Koepka? Current issues with the Official World Golf Rankings I think that’s it.”

With the exception of Fitzpatrick, many players lack determination.

“There’s no way to solve it,” Zalatoris added.

“I know some players have expressed their opinion on that. I like to stay away from that kind of thing. It’s in an interesting position right now. I’ll leave it at that.”

Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through.Be sure to check it out @_PlayingThrough Cover more golf. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko In the same way.