The chairman of the Official World Golf Ranking has confirmed LIV Golf have resubmitted their application.
LIV Golf have submitted a fresh application to be recognised by the sport’s global rankings body.
The Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) confirmed on Thursday the PIF-backed breakaway submitted an application to be accredited on 30 June.
Former Masters champion and OWGR chairman Trevor Immelman said the board will review their application with the same scrutiny and fairness as other tours.
“We appreciate the interest of LIV Golf – and all Tours – in contributing to the global landscape of men’s professional golf through OWGR,” Immelman said.
Further updates will be provided as the review progresses.”
LIV Golf, which is bankrolled by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, officially launched in June 2022.
Several major champions and such as Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Cameron Smith were among the first wave of players recruited by LIV.
The golfers received staggering, up-front signing-on fees.
The PGA Tour responded by indefinitely banning players that left.
Just one of the reasons why LIV players received such vast sums of money was because they were potentially giving up eligibility to golf’s four major championships.
As well as illustrating who the best golfers in the world are, the OWGR determines the field for the major championships.
The top 50 players in the OWGR automatically qualify for The Masters whilst this number increases to 100 for the PGA Championship.
The top 60 in the OWGR qualify for the US Open and The Open.
Former LIV chairman Greg Norman claimed the lack of OWGR points would be a short-term problem as the breakaway submitted an application just before the landmark 150th Open at St Andrews in July 2022.
It took months for the OWGR to review LIV’s first application and, in the meantime, several players cried of a conspiracy.
On 10 October 2023, the OWGR said LIV would not receive points ‘at this time’
Peter Dawson was the OWGR chairman at the time and he stressed the governing body was ‘not at war’ with LIV.
Instead, Dawson said the 54-hole, no-cut events for 48 players was an issue, along with limited access for other players.
Dawson said that it could be managed via a mathematical formula, although it wouldn’t be perfect.
He urged LIV make some alterations but a furious Norman confirmed last March the rival league had ended their bid for OWGR accreditation.
“It is now clear that the best way forward for LIV as a league and you as LIV golfers is not through the current ranking system,” Norman wrote in the letter to players.
A system that once upheld the fairness and reliability of the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) no longer seems to exist.
Despite significant efforts to advocate for players and ensure their achievements are acknowledged, OWGR has shown limited interest in cooperating with us constructively.
The exact details of the league’s latest proposal remain unclear.
Statement from LIV Golf CEO
LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil expressed confidence that their most recent submission addresses the key concerns.
He thanked OWGR chairman Trevor Immelman for his leadership and support in advancing the game for both players and fans.
O’Neil reiterated LIV Golf’s commitment to collaborating with OWGR to ensure that top players can compete in the sport’s most prestigious events. He also emphasized that their proposal supports the creation of a more inclusive and accurate global ranking system.
They remain optimistic that the review and approval process will move forward in time for the 2026 major season.
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