It appears LIV Golf doesn’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon. In fact, the renegade pro golf tour is seemingly trying to chart a path forward in the professional game.
LIV has reapplied to be included in the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR), the rankings organization announced.
The announcement comes nearly two years after LIV’s initial application be included was denied.
OWGR Confirms LIV’s Latest Application For Inclusion
LIV’s application to be included in the OWGR came at the end of June, chairman Trevor Immelman said in a statement, and the review is ongoing.
“The OWGR Board is committed to a thorough evaluation process of all applications, and LIV’s application will be reviewed in accordance with OWGR’s criteria to ensure fairness, integrity and consistency,” Immelman said in a statement. “We appreciate the interest of LIV golf — and all tours — in contributing to the global landscape of men’s professional golf through OWGR. Further updates will be provided as the review progresses.”
It’s certainly an interesting and noteworthy development in the sport’s professional landscape. It seemingly coincides with a recent C-suite reshuffling from the Saudi-backed golf league. LIV named Scott O’Neil its new CEO in April, and there was immediate dialogue between he and Immelman, the latter confirmed in an ESPN report from May.
“They have not put any application in,” Immelman told ESPN at the time. “Whether that happens or not, I guess time will tell.
” … We’re in the same position we have been without any application from their side. The ball is in their court.”
LIV’s previous application in 2023 was rejected, as then OWGR chairman Peter Dawson revealed in a letter to then-LIV CEO Greg Norman. According to Dawson, the OWGR had concerns about some of LIV’s playing guidelines and league setup. The OWGR pointed to player turnover and relegation as well as the team aspect of the league as two reasons why it would be too difficult to fit into the ranking formula.
Put another way, the OWGR said at the time those issues were “not susceptible to mathematical adjustment.”
That doesn’t even touch on the fact that LIV tournaments are 54-hole events, compared to 72 holes across other tours in the rankings system.
Why LIV’s OWGR Inclusion Could Completely Change Pro Golf
There’s no real reason to believe any of that has changed this time around. The player turnover has slowed down, but the team aspect remains, and there’s nothing to say there wouldn’t or couldn’t be more turnover. The 54-hole format remains in place.
If OWGR did approve LIV, though, it could be a major game-changer for the professional game. While the PGA Tour has dramatically enhanced and increased its purses through signature events and outside investment from some of sports’ biggest power brokers, it still can’t go toe-to-toe with the financial might of the Saudi PIF.
One of the biggest reasons the PGA Tour has been able to find level footing after the initial wave of defections is the OWGR status. Those points are vital to getting spots in major championships.
There are currently just two LIV players in the top 50 of the OWGR — Bryson DeChambeau and Tyrrell Hatton — who are there only because of their performances in majors. There’s a glaring omission for someone like Jon Rahm, who is currently ranked No. 68 in the world by the OWGR but trails only Scottie Scheffler on the DataGolf world rankings.
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