LIV Golf stars launch bid for world ranking points as Saudi league’s OWGR problem goes on.

LIV Golf continues to host its events without Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points on offer, forcing some of its players to venture elsewhere to climb the rankings.

Many LIV Golf stars have chosen to participate in the International Series England event on the Asian Tour in Surrey this week instead of joining the breakaway league.

The competition will provide participants with the opportunity to accumulate Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points, while LIV will still organize events that are not OWGR accredited.

A total of 11 LIV players will vie for the championship trophy at Foxhills Golf and Country Club, during the Tour’s International Series event in England. Richard Bland, a two-time senior major champion, is the main attraction for the event’s home fans as he transitions to the Asian circuit. “In his first two appearances in senior major tournaments, Bland achieved consecutive wins.

His first victory was at the Senior PGA Championship in May, followed by a win at the Senior US Open a month later.

Bland is categorized as a ‘tournament invite’ on the participants’ roster, along with Thomas Pieters, another LIV star and former European Ryder Cup player.”

American duo Jason Kokrak and Peter Uihlein will also compete in Surrey, having seen their names drift out of the top-500 in the world since leaving the PGA Tour. Both Anirban Lahiri and Brendan Grace are also in the field, earning exemptions as former Presidents Cup players.

The same can be said for Kalle Samooja and Kieran Vincent, who both earned a spot on the LIV roster via the breakaway league’s first ever promotions event in Abu Dhabi last December.

A former PGA Tour star in Harold Varner III, who may well be planning ahead having seen his name drift towards LIV’s drop zone with only two regular season events left to play, will also compete in Surrey. Caleb Surratt and Scott Vincent – who have both featured on the International Series this year – will also compete.

Whilst not officially a LIV player, the Series’ Order of Merit leader John Catlin will also look to continue his hot form this week. The American has impressed during his Asian Tour venture this season, and this has earned him a temporary role on Bryson DeChambeau’s Crushers team in place of the injured Charles Howell III in recent months.

Catlin currently leads the way on the Series, with the player sat in top spot at the end of the campaign earning full playing rights on the LIV setup for 2025. The man who was set to headline the event was Ryder Cup stalwart Ian Poutler, but the Englishman was forced to withdraw earlier this week.

On Monday, Poulter informed his social media followers that he has an ankle injury that needs rest this week before the upcoming trip to Greenbrier with LIV. Regrettably, he stated, “I am unable to participate in this week’s International Series event at Foxhills Country Club.”

I have experienced a recurring ankle injury from earlier in the season and after discussing with my team, they have recommended that I rest in order to alleviate the inflammation.

It is disappointing to miss out on playing in front of my home fans, especially after a great week at LIV Golf UK.

He mentioned that he still plans to attend the event this weekend and hopes to meet some people at Foxhills on Saturday. He also expressed his well wishes for all the competitors, staff, volunteers, and stakeholders involved in the event.