LIV Golf have officially given up in their quest to have Official World Golf Ranking accreditation, according to a report by SI.
According to a report, LIV Golf has officially surrendered in their long-standing battle.
The breakaway tour, according to SI, has decided to stop seeking accreditation from the Official World Golf Ranking.
“LIV submitted their application to earn OWGR points in July 2022 ahead of the prestigious 150th Open at St. Andrews.”
The issue of whether LIV should be deserving of points has been extensively discussed since that time.
Due to the ongoing ban on LIV players participating in the PGA Tour, there are now limited opportunities for rival league players to qualify for golf’s four major championships.
Some LIV players have already secured a spot in the majors for the coming years, but there is a chance that in the future the majors may not attract the strongest players they could potentially have.
Just last week LIV’s 2023 individual champion Talor Gooch caused a stir on the topic with his asterisk claim.
LIV were told ‘no’ by the OWGR in October 2023.
OWGR chairman Peter Dawson claimed there is no conspiracy against LIV and admitted the players were ‘self-evidently’ good enough to be ranked.
But concerns were raised about the league’s format, pathways to the league and the fact the individual element could be compromised by the team component.
Dawson gave an interview to The Times of London in late February whereby he doubled down on his previous claim.
“I’m not here to say the LIV format is worse or better than anything else,” he said. “But it is different and that’s what makes it tricky.”
He added: “If it comes down to a no-change situation then the world of golf will have to decide whether they would prefer to have a totally inclusive ranking system that is perhaps not mathematically as good as it could be, or a mathematically sound system which excludes some players.
“That’s a decision to come in the future because we are in a bad place.”
LIV have now officially given up, according to SI’s report.
A letter addressed to LIV players from their chief executive, Greg Norman, read:
“A resolution which protects the accuracy, credibility and integrity of the OWGR rankings no longer exists.
“We have made significant efforts to fight for you and ensure your accomplishments are recognized within the existing ranking system.
“Unfortunately, OWGR has shown little willingness to productively work with us.”
Norman further stated that, even if LIV were to receive OWGR points, the system is structured in a way that would make it extremely difficult to regain positions near the top of the ranking, where many players deserve to be.
As of now, there are only four LIV players ranked in the top 50 of the OWGR.
The reigning Masters champion is Jon Rahm, alongside five-time major winner Brooks Koepka, 2022 Open champion Cameron Smith, and Tyrrell Hatton.
Adrian Meronk, a recruit for LIV in 2024, has dropped to 51st in the rankings after receiving a slow-play penalty in Jeddah.
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