LIV Golf has not yet received certification from the Official World Golf Ranking, and the breakaway league’s 54-hole, no-cut tournament will be held without ranking points.
The Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) awards ranking points to yet another 54-hole tournament tour, but it’s not LIV Golf. On Thursday, the OWGR confirmed it had granted ranking recognition to the Tartan Pro Tour, founded by former British Open champion Paul Lawrie.
The tour is contested at a number of golf courses in Scotland, with this week’s Montrose Links Masters being the first event to earn ranking points. The Scottish-based circuit sits below the Challenge Tour in golf’s pyramid, providing a route to the Tours above it and the DP World Tour.
OWGR confirmed the news in a statement, saying, “Tartan Pro Tour has worked continuously with OWGR over the past 16 months to provide requested documentation and to further comply with long-standing OWGR eligibility and formatting standards.” We have made various adjustments…”
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“The Montrose Links Masters, presented by The Gym Rental Company, will be the first Tartan Pro Tour tournament to be incorporated into the ranking system as an OWGR eligible golf tour starting Week 20, the week ending May 19, 2024. ” The Rowleys Tour was welcomed by OWGR Chairman Peter Dawson, who welcomed the opportunity offered by the Tartan Pro Tour.
“We are excited to welcome the Tartan Pro Tour to the family of OWGR-eligible golf tours,” said Dawson. “This tour will play an important role in providing competitive opportunities and career paths for aspiring players.” There is no doubt that this announcement caught the attention of LIV.
Like the Tartan Pro Tour, LIV also operates a 54-hole event but is not yet sanctioned by the OWGR. The most recent bid to earn ranking points was made last fall, but one of the reasons behind the system’s decision was the restricted hole format, and that application was rejected.
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Further problems include the league’s lack of cut lines and a promotion/relegation system that protects many players from relegation due to contracts with Saudi-funded leagues. In March, LIV CEO Greg Norman confirmed in a letter to players that the circuit had given up on earning OWGR points.
“We have fought for you and worked hard to ensure your achievements are recognized within the existing ranking system,” the letter said. “Unfortunately, the OWGR has shown little desire to work productively with us…The rankings are a disproportionate reward on the PGA Tour for those who do not play regularly on the “eligible tours.” The field is configured to give a penalty in his rating…
“Even if points were awarded instantly for LIV Golf events, the OWGR system is designed in such a way that it would be functionally impossible for a player to regain a position near the top of the leaderboard where most people belong. ” The Tartan Pro Tour is the latest 54-hole circuit to be recognized by the OWGR after points were awarded to the Klutch Pro Tour last month.