“It’s Hard to Compare with 24 Tours around the world”
LIV Golf, backed by Saudi Arabia’s capital, has failed again to be recognized by the world ranking system.
AP reported on the 11th that the World Golf Ranking (OWGR) committee, which calculates the men’s golf world ranking system, recently rejected a petition attempted by LIV Golf in July based on its one-year operation.
OWGR cited the refusal to acknowledge that LIV Golf was played with 48 players per tournament, 54-hole plays, and no-cut leagues, which could not be compared fairly with 24 other leagues around the world.
“We are not trying to go to war with them,” said Peter Dawson, chairman of the OWGR. “This decision is not political, it is entirely a technical matter. “LIV Golf is confident of being ranked, but it is not a format that can be compared equally with thousands of other golf on 24 tours,” he said.
LIV Golf has been continuously attempting to be recognized by the OWGR since its inception in June last year. However, OWGR has been suggesting guidelines from the beginning, saying that LIV Golf’s tournament method is not suitable for being given the world ranking. The OWGR’s board of directors consists of representatives from the R&A, the two organizations responsible for global golf rules, the American Golf Association (USGA), the Augusta National Golf Course hosting the Masters, the PGA America, the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour. Among them, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and DP World Tour CEO Keith Water were excluded from the decision at the request of LIV Golf.
After their will was thwarted, LIV Golf issued a lengthy official statement, saying, “OWGR is not performing its basic function of reflecting the world’s best players in the rankings,” adding, “This is ignoring all players, fans, sponsors, and broadcasts.”
Most of the players who have moved to LIV Golf since last year have fallen seriously. Dustin Johnson of the U.S. is down from 13th to 121st, Lewis Oostichizen of South Africa is down from 20th to 385th, Bryson DeChambeau of the U.S. is down from 29th to 132nd, Kevin Na of the U.S. is down from 33rd to 453rd, and Sergio Garcia of Spain is down from 54th to 375th. Only Brooks Koepka of the U.S., the world’s No. 1, is in 18th place with the runner-up Masters and the PGA Championship.