Report: LIV Golf League Abandons Attempts To Secure World Ranking Points

Greg Norman reportedly sent a letter to LIV players stating that a resolution no longer exists to safeguard the accuracy, credibility, and integrity of the OWGR rankings.

The LIV Golf League has decided to no longer pursue official accreditation as an eligible tour from the Official World Golf Ranking board, according to Sports Illustrated’s Bob Harig.

Harig initially disclosed on Tuesday that the PIF-funded circuit had “previously pulled back its submission” due to its players not being adequately acknowledged by the OWGR since its establishment in 2022.

LIV initially sought recognition as a tour shortly after its inaugural event in London two years ago.

However, in October 2023, the OWGR rejected the application citing concerns about the league’s structure, insufficient marketing efforts, and the absence of promotion and relegation, as well as limited opportunities for non-league players to qualify.

OWGR chairman Peter Dawson said at the time: “This is about, should a tour whose formats are so different and whose qualification criteria are so different, can they be ranked equitably with other tours who conform to the OWGR norm and have more competition to them than perhaps the closed shop that is LIV

Since then, LIV has introduced a Promotions Event as well as relegation, all while having formed a strategic partnership with the Asian Tour to allow players from that circuit to qualify and giving the opportunity for LIV players to peg it up outside of their league.

GHowever, after seemingly failing to make inroads with the OWGR, LIV CEO Greg Norman reportedly sent a letter to all of his players featuring in LIV Golf Hong King this week, hitting out at the ranking body.

Per Sports Illustrated, the letter 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.

“The rankings are structured to penalize anyone who has not played regularly on an “Eligible Tour” with the field ratings disproportionately rewarding play on the PGA Tour.

“This is demonstrated by the observation that there are only four players within the top 50 rankings who are not PGA Tour members (Jon Rahm (3), Tyrrell Hatton (17), Brooks Koepka (30) and Cam Smith (45)), along with the notable decrease in LIV player presence despite exceptional showings on the LIV Tour.”

“Even if LIV Golf tournaments were to receive immediate points, the OWGR system is structured in a way that it would be practically difficult for you to climb back to the top of the rankings, where many of you were before joining LIV, and where you rightfully belong based on your performance.”