Greg Norman abandons LIV Golf world rankings points race… doubts grow over Saudi-sponsored tour players qualifying for major tournaments

LIV Golf has abandoned its long-standing application to earn world ranking points, but the move raises further questions about the breakaway circuit’s ability to serve as a pathway to major championships.

The Tour, led by Greg Norman, had lobbied for official ranking recognition from the Official World Golf Rankings from July 2022, but was rejected last October, so LIV chiefs are now rapidly phasing out its “relevance.” He called for the suspension of these efforts out of anger at the organizations that are losing their lives.

“The OWGR is not and cannot be an ‘official’ ranking as we have refused to evaluate your performance over the past several seasons,” Norman wrote in an email to players on Tuesday.

“This decision removes any ambiguity regarding its relevance. The game of golf is changing. It is expanding and modernizing.

“LIV Golf believes it is time for a player rating system to do the same, and that a fully independent ranking system is what best serves the league, tour, players, fans, and stakeholders. .”

Greg Norman abandons long-running application of LIV Golf to earn world ranking points

Masters champion Jon Rahm is the circuit’s highest ranking star at No. 3 in the world.

It added: “We have fought for you and have gone to great lengths to ensure your achievements are recognized within the existing ranking system.” It shows very little.”

The lack of ranking points in LIV events creates the unpleasant scenario of golfers who are objectively among the best in the world dropping off the PGA Tour, resulting in a sudden drop in the standings.

Most farcically, Dustin Johnson is currently 266th, with 2022 British Open champion Cameron Smith dropping to 50th, while last year’s PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka clings to 30th place. That’s what I’m doing. Masters champion Jon Rahm finished third, his highest finish on the circuit.

OWGR says they exist outside of the ongoing golf civil war and simply do not meet the standards that LIV criticized last year for its status as a largely closed shop with limited room for promotion and relegation. It is claimed that.

2022 British Open champion Cameron Smith has fallen to 50th place after leaving LIV in August 2022

LIV took steps to address the issue at its feeder events, but was frustrated by the lack of further clarity and guidance from the ranking bodies.

The question now is what kind of situation LIV golfers will find themselves in as they aim to break into the majors.

At the top end, the group consisting of Rahm, Koepka and Smith among others will be protected by exemptions for their recent major wins, but another recent convert, Tyrrell Hatton, will be sweating. It will be.

Having fallen to No. 17 in the world, he’s fine with the Big Four this season, but unless he stays within the top 50 based on major results alone, his place at next year’s Masters is clearly uncertain.

The move by LIV comes at a time when progress on a proposed peaceful merger between Saudi backers and the PGA Tour has slowed dramatically.