Lee Westwood Critiques World Golf Rankings

Lee Westwood is feeling pretty good after making it into the top 40 at the recent Open Championship, yet he doesn’t hold back on his critique of the official World Golf Rankings (OWGR).

The seasoned golfer, who participates in the LIV Golf Tour, currently sits at 930th on the OWGR list after finishing 34th at Royal Portrush. Interestingly, he mentioned his son Sam, who is ranked 2,759 while playing on the mini-tour, as a point of comparison, further showcasing his discontent with the ranking process.

“I think it just goes to show that without world ranking points, the whole system seems a bit ridiculous,” Westwood remarked during LIV Golf’s UK event. Many players from LIV share a similar sentiment, advocating for their events to be included in the OWGR system. However, their recent applications are still awaiting review.

Back in 2022, when LIV was founded, they sought certification but were turned down. Consequently, LIV golfers can only earn OWGR points through major championships or specific international tour events. Take Dustin Johnson, for example—he’s currently placed 571st, a result of finishing tied for 23rd in the Open. Once the world’s top golfer for 135 weeks, his ranking has certainly taken a hit since joining LIV.

Interestingly, only Bryson Dechambeau and Tyrrell Hatton rank within the top 50 of the OWGR. Other LIV players like Jon Rahm and Patrick Reed haven’t moved up significantly despite solid performances. Westwood articulates concerns about this, stating that the major championships should ideally feature the best talent. He expressed a desire to see LIV Golf’s appeal for world ranking points succeed, noting that the current lack could exclude deserving players.

Hutton, too, has been vocal about the need for recognition for LIV golfers in major tournaments. The hope is that if a better path exists for these players, more opportunities will arise.