Associated Press Oct 10, 2023, 1:35 PM ET4 Minute Read
LIV Golf is playing only for cash, not world ranking points, after the official World Golf Ranking Board determined it could not compare the 48-team league to the other 24 golf tournaments around the world.
The OWGR rejected Saudi-backed LIV Golf’s application, first submitted in July 2022, after the league had already played two of its 54-hole no-cut events.
“We are not at war with them,” said Peter Dawson, chairman of the OWGR board, when contacted by The Associated Press. “This decision to make them ineligible is not political. It is purely technical in nature. LIV players are obviously good enough to be ranked. They simply don’t play in a format where they can be ranked on an equal footing with the other 24 tours. Thousands of players try to compete on them.”
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, European Tour CEO Keith Pelley and International Federation of PGA Tours CEO Keith Waters previously recused themselves from the LIV Golf decision to avoid conflicts of interest.
The committee that rejected LIV’s request included executives from Augusta National, the PGA of America, the US Golf Association and The R&A, which run the four majors. Majors use the OWGR as part of their qualification criteria.
LIV Golf, which has two events remaining in its second season, has 48 players competing over 54 holes with no cut and a prize pool of $20 million, with an additional $5 million awarded in a simultaneous team competition .
Dawson, a non-voting member of the committee, said the OWGR could work around some of the requirements, such as a 36-hole cut and an average field size of 75 players over the course of a season.
But the committee couldn’t get over what amounted to a shutdown.
The LIV Golf League has the same 48 players all season (with replacements in case of injury) and not enough turnover. Although the top 24 players are guaranteed a spot next season, LIV Golf has signed several players to lucrative contracts that will ensure them a spot in the squad regardless of their performance.
Those not currently in the top 24 include Phil Mickelson, Lee Westwood, Bubba Watson, Paul Casey and Ian Poulter.
Three players are set to be added for the 2024 season through a promotion tournament, with a fourth player – Andy Ogletree – gaining promotion via the International Series on the Asian Tour. LIV Golf may choose to add more people through recruitment, for example by signing Mito Pereira and Thomas Pieters ahead of the 2023 season.
Most tours around the world typically have a 20 to 25% turnover rate.
LIV Golf made its debut in June 2022 and the lack of world ranking points has taken a huge toll. Players who joined the rival league were banned from the PGA Tour and European Tour, and their only access to points was the majors.
When LIV Golf completed its inaugural season, it had 12 players ranked in the world’s top 50 (led by Cameron Smith) and 24 in the top 100. This week’s rankings include Smith (No. 15) and Brooks Koepka (No. 18). ) are the only players in the top 50 and LIV only has six players in the top 100.
Those no longer in the top 100 include Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Talor Gooch, who has three LIV Golf victories this year. LIV players have mocked the OWGR for not being credible without offering them ranking points.
“Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, of course they should be ranked,” Dawson said. “We have to find a way to make this happen. I hope LIV can find a solution – not so much their format; That can be solved with a mathematical formula – but rather the qualification and relegation.”
The OWGR committee also raised concerns about the team aspect of LIV, particularly a moment involving Sebastián Muñoz at a LIV golf event in Florida a week before the Masters.
Koepka had a 1-shot lead on the final hole as he and Muñoz were both about 40 feet from birdie. Koepka went first and left the putt just over four feet away. Muñoz needed a birdie to force a playoff. However, his torque team had a 1-stroke lead. Muñoz delayed his putt to just under 4 feet and made par.
“I knew we had a one-shot lead as a team, so I couldn’t go extra. I knew I couldn’t be too aggressive,” Muñoz said when it was over.
LIV Golf may reapply for inclusion in the OWGR system, although the Board has made it clear that turnover, objective access to LIV Golf and the relegation of underperforming players remain important points for obtaining ranking points.
It also involves the PGA Tour, the European Tour and the Saudi backers of LIV Golf (Public Investment Fund) entering into a commercial partnership announced in June. One of the provisions is evaluating the future of team golf.