LIV Golf’s field at this year’s major championships is expected to be sparse, with breakaway leagues still waiting to receive ranking points from the Official World Golf Rankings.
Two of LIV Golf’s stars will be turning their attention to the Asian Tour this week, with the Malaysian Open offering world ranking points and three British Open Championship spots.
The number of LIV players competing in golf’s four majors will be limited this year as the Saudi-backed league is not yet recognized by the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR). While some of the league’s biggest names have received exemptions thanks to past major wins, the rest are likely to miss out as LIV events are yet to award world ranking points.
To pave the way for this year’s British Open at Royal Troon, Spanish Brits Sam Horsfield and David Puig will head to Malaysia this week in hopes of qualifying for the year’s final major tournament. Selected.
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Horsfield and Puig will have the chance to pick up valuable ranking points, while also fighting for a top-three finish that will guarantee them a spot at the British Open in July.And both got off to a great start Mines Resort & Golf Club is tied for 13th place at 5 under after the first round.
While the link to the Asian Tour provides a respite in the rankings for LIV members, it is still far from an ideal scenario for members of the breakaway league. LIV has made great strides in the pro game since his June 2022 launch, but one of the big issues that remains in this armor is the lack of OWGR recognition.
Their latest bid was rejected last October, with OWGR leaders citing the league’s 54-hole, no-cut format and promotion/relegation system as the main reasons for the rejection. Understandably, the heads of the Saudi-backed league were not too impressed with the decision and denounced the legitimacy of the ranking.
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“OWGR’s sole purpose is to rank the best players around the world. Today’s communications make it clear that OWGR can no longer achieve that purpose,” LIV said in a statement at the time. It was written. Unless the best players are recognized for their performances, a lack of trust and clarity is of no benefit to fans or players.
“LIV continues to strive to level the playing field so that fans, broadcasters and sponsors can be assured of an independent and objective ranking system and the pure enjoyment of watching the world’s best golf.” One proposal being put forward is for the heads of golf’s four majors to offer some kind of exemption path for players who compete in breakaway leagues.
Bryson DeChambeau, who proposed the idea in Jeddah last October, argued: I don’t think they’re allowing that at this point, but I think we have some of the best players in the world, so I would love to find another way to be integrated into the major championship system. Masu.
“I think it makes sense that the top 12 on the year-end list, the prize money list, or the year-end points list, the major championships would have the best players in the world in these four tournaments.” ” But as it stands, the powers that be have not yet provided any eligibility categories for the LIV setup.