LIV Golf has admitted it has lost the race to have its world rankings approved after Greg Norman notified players of the end of a process that lasted almost two years.
LIV has been in talks with the Official World Golf Ranking since the summer of 2022, when high-profile players from the PGA and DP World Tours began being recruited to the Saudi-backed circuit. The OWGR, whose board includes the four major tournaments, has consistently maintained that the LIV format does not meet its standards for awarding points. LIV tournaments are 54 holes, have no cuts, and feature many players who were effectively bought out by the tour rather than qualifying.
As a result, famous golfers such as Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Cameron Smith and Sergio Garcia have rapidly fallen down the rankings and can only earn points by playing in majors.
“We have worked hard to fight for you and ensure your achievements are recognized within the existing ranking system,” LIV Commissioner Norman told players in a memo. “Unfortunately, OWGR has shown little desire to work productively with us.”
Norman continued, “This is not a decision we have made lightly. Over the past 18 months, we have had near-constant dialogue with various members of the OWGR Technical Committee and Board of Directors, and as a league we are pleased to announce that LIV , and it has become clear that the current ranking system is not the best way forward for you as LIV golfers. There is no longer a resolution to protect the accuracy, reliability, and integrity of the OWGR rankings. ”
Many within the LIV scene have consistently argued that the lack of recognition for their tours has made the world rankings obsolete. Norman has always been fully confident that LIV will win this fight, which means the current situation causes some embarrassment for the Australians. LIV golfers were eager to have access to the World Rankings, as they play a role in the eligibility criteria for majors. LIV may now change its approach with the aim of obtaining significant exemptions through its own merit order.
OWGR board chairman Peter Dawson has previously defended his position. “We are not at war with them,” said the R&A’s former chief executive. “This decision to not qualify them is not political. It is entirely technical. LIV players are clearly as good as they are ranked. They are better than the other 24 They just aren’t playing in a format that allows them to be fairly ranked against the tour and the thousands of players who are trying to compete on that tour.”
