Poulter blasts ‘irrelevant’ rankings

MACAO, China: Former Ryder Cup star Ian Poulter said that golf’s world rankings are “irrelevant”, and the majors need to decide if they want the best players regardless.

Englishman Poulter, who once would have depended on being in the world’s top 50 to get into majors, elite tournaments and Ryder Cup teams, told Agence France-Presse (AFP): “I don’t even know where I am in the world rankings.”

The 48-year-old has had top12 finishes in all four majors in a career spanning more than two decades, but now plies his trade on the controversial Saudi-bankrolled LIV circuit.

Last week, the breakaway tour withdrew its application to join the Official World Golf Rankings after trying since July 2022 to gain recognition for its 54-hole, no-cut $25 million tournaments.

“The rankings do not reflect the top 100 players in the world, so therefore, they’re not relevant anymore,” said Poulter.

He was speaking ahead of the International Series Macao, one of 10 Asian Tour events bankrolled by LIV and its backers the Saudi Public Investment Fund to the tune of $2 million.

The winner of the International Series order of merit wins an automatic place on LIV.

The lucrative Saudi foray into golf and other sports has triggered accusations of “sportswashing” of the kingdom’s rights record.

Poulter earned almost $400,000 last week for a tied-eighth finish at LIV Hong Kong, won by Mexico’s Abraham Ancer, yet slipped another eight places to 4W2 in the rankings.

The rankings are largely used to decide who qualifies into golf’s four majors.