‘Omitting our stars from the ranking system is unjust’
REBELS from the LIV tour have pleaded with golf’s ranking body to recognise the breakaway series, claiming their existing system is ‘undermined’ and ‘invalid’ without them.
In a letter to Official World Golf Rankings, signed by the 48 players who teed up last week at the fifth LIV event in Chicago, the group wrote: ‘An OWGR without LIV would be incomplete and inaccurate, the equivalent of leaving Belgium, Argentina, and England out of the FIFA rankings.’
The defectors’ latest push for legitimacy comes at a time when they are falling down the standings, having cashed in with the Saudibacked series, whose events are not currently eligible for ranking points. An application to that end was submitted in July, with LIV golfers fearful they might not qualify for future majors if their push is unsuccessful.
The letter, whose co-signatories included Open champion Cameron Smith, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau, went on to question the neutrality of the OWGR’s eight-person board, citing that half are connected to the PGA Tour, with whom LIV have been locked in an ugly power struggle.
It read: ‘Some 23 tours are integrated into the OWGR universe, and LIV has earned its place among them. Four LIV golfers have held the number-one position on the OWGR.
‘LIV’s roster includes 21 of the last 51 winners of the four majors. The level of competition at the average LIV event is at least equal to that at the average PGA Tour event. We know because we’ve played in both.
‘Every week that passes without the inclusion of LIV athletes undermines the historical value of OWGR.’
The letter added: ‘The case for LIV’s inclusion is strong, but we have concerns that members of your governing board are conflicted and are keeping the OWGR from acting as it should.
‘Four of the eight members have connections to the PGA Tour, which unfortunately views LIV Golf as an antagonist. Other members of the Board have made unfairly harsh remarks about LIV. The current overwrought environment makes your own judgment crucial.
‘We call on you to render a positive decision quickly — for the benefit of the integrity of the rankings, the game and all of us who love the sport.’
The non-allocation of ranking points to LIV means that the PGA and DP World tours can still operate from a position of relative strength.
However, it has been suggested the delay in any decision from the OWGR — whose governing board also includes executives from the R&A, the PGA of America, USGA and Augusta National Golf Club, further strengthens their hand.
‘As time goes by, LIV golfers automatically decline in the rankings,’ added the players’ letter.
‘We hope the story we read today about the decision being slow walked so LIV golfers will slide down and to harm LIV is not accurate.
‘For example, Dustin Johnson was ranked 13th on OWGR shortly before he announced he would play in LIV tournaments.
‘He now ranks 22nd – despite finishing eighth, third, second, and first in the first four LIV events.’
LIV’s push to be included in the rankings has raised eyebrows within the sport, not least because it would appear unable in its current configuration to satisfy a number of OWGR’s criteria, including competitions contested over 72 holes instead of 54, an average field size of 75 rather than 48 and a 36-hole cut.
Five of the 54-hole tournaments have already been held this year, for which a number of top names signed up, with the final three scheduled for Bangkok, Jeddah and Miami.
Meanwhile, Trevor Immelman says while his International team for this week’s Presidents Cup has been severely weakened by LIV defections, their underdog status will allow them to play with more freedom against the United States.
The ineligibility of players like Cameron Smith and Joaquin Niemann — who were automatic qualifiers for the International team until their decision to join LIV Golf — forced Immelman to scramble his 12-man roster.
The International squad will feature a record eight rookies at Quail Hollow Club against a heavily-favoured US team that features five of the world’s top 10 players, but Immelman has not had to deliver any sort of special message to his players.
‘We know where we’re at. We know the adversity that our team has been through over the course of the last 12 months. So you really don’t need to say too much,’ he said.