The growing list of players who have ditched the PGA Tour for LIV Golf has continued to attract controversy. However, it seems like LIV Golf players have something else to worry about, as their world rankings continue to plummet. Of all the players to have defected to LIV Golf, only Bryson DeChambeau, David Puig, and Peter Uihlein have seen an improvement in their pre-LIV Golf rankings.
Growing Concerns Over Continuous World Rankings Drop
There are many benefits attached to being in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR). The most notable benefit is exemption to major championships. But LIV has remained unsanctioned by the OWGR since it launched in 2022. This means that LIV Golf players’ world rankings have dropped significantly as a result of the limited opportunities they have to earn points. The Saudi-backed league has tried and failed to convince the OWGR to look beyond LIV’s format, which has been a major concern.
There were reports in some quarters last week that the breakaway league was on the verge of getting OWGR accreditation. However, Trevor Immelman, president of the OWGR, quickly denied the reports, insisting that LIV Golf has yet to meet their accreditation conditions. Immelman stated that he discussed LIV Golf’s world ranking application with CEO Scott O’Neil at The Masters, and noted that LIV Golf hasn’t submitted another proposal to the OWGR since the OWGR rejected their application for world ranking legitimacy last October.
After the rejection, the OWGR board listed the necessary modifications that LIV Golf must implement before they can have a chance at a successful re-application. LIV Golf is also far from reaching an agreement to reunite with the PGA Tour; hence, the world rankings of LIV golfers are expected to continue falling.
LIV Golf Keen on World Ranking Accreditation
In a bid to arrest the continuous fall of its players’ world rankings, LIV Golf has begun considering the possibility of amending its existing forma bit. The proposed change would require all players who fall into its “relegation zone” to play a qualifying event to earn their spot back — even if they are one of the team captains. LIV Golf’s current policies allow captains to remain in the league even if they fall into relegation. However, that could change as LIV Golf tries to meet the requirements of the OWGR.
The OWGR listed playing pathways into the league, player turnover, and field variance between events as some of the reasons why LIV’s format doesn’t work. But since Scott O’Neil took over LIV Golf’s leadership from Hall of Famer Greg Norman in January, the league has adopted an open approach with the OWGR. There is hope that LIV Golf will gain OWGR accreditation in the future and stop the free fall of its players’ world rankings.
Main Photo Credit: © Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images
