LIV Golf abandons application for world ranking points

LIV Golf has formally withdrawn its application to have players receive world ranking points from its tournaments, according to a letter sent to the Saudi Arabia-backed circuit’s membership by commissioner and CEO Greg Norman.

LIV Golf first applied for recognition from the official world golf ranking (OWGR), which plays a role in determining entry into golf’s four Majors, in July 2022 but was rejected last October. “We have made enormous efforts to fight for you and to ensure your accomplishments are recognised within the existing ranking system,” Norman wrote in the letter. “Unfortunately, the OWGR has shown little willingness to productively work with us.”

In unanimously rejecting LIV Golf’s application last October, the OWGR said the circuit’s 54hole, no-cut events for 48 players was an issue but that it could be managed through an “appropriate mathematical formula”.

Norman said the rankings were structured to penalise anyone who had not played regularly on an “eligible tour” with the field ratings disproportionately rewarding PGA Tour play.

He also called for an independent ranking system that recognised how the game was “expanding and modernising” and said he would continue doing all he could to ensure LIV Golf players were represented at the Majors.

While golf’s four Majors have allowed qualified LIV players to compete, those who earned exemptions into the blue-riband events due to past results could one day be excluded as they do not earn world ranking points.

There are now four LIV players in the top 50 in the world rankings: Masters champion Jon Rahm (3), Tyrrell Hatton (17), Brooks Koepka (30) and Cam Smith (50).

LIV’s Joaquin Niemann accepted a special invitation in February to compete in the Masters after a solid run of form .

LIV Golf’s season resumes this week at Hong Kong Golf Club.