LIV Golf Players to Earn World Ranking Points
News Summary
The Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) has announced that players participating in LIV Golf events will earn world ranking points starting this season. However, only the top 10 finishers will be awarded points, classifying LIV tournaments as small tournament fields. This decision follows extensive negotiations and raises questions about fairness in the ranking system compared to other tours, particularly as LIV Golf events have smaller field sizes and operate without cuts. The move is seen as progress in allowing players from LIV Golf to compete in major championships.
LIV Golf Players to Earn World Ranking Points for the First Time
Exciting news is coming out of the golf world as the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) has decided to award world ranking points to players participating in LIV Golf events, starting from this season. After seven months of intense negotiations since LIV Golf first submitted its application, it seems the wheels are finally in motion. But, as with all good news, there is a twist!
Classified as Small Tournaments
Under this new plan, only players finishing in the top 10 of LIV Golf events will earn these coveted points, classifying these tournaments as “small tournament fields.” This means if you’re not in the top 10, you’re out of luck when it comes to accumulating world ranking points. Not only that, but points won’t be redistributed within the top 10 either, meaning those outside this elite bracket will receive nothing for their efforts.
Looking ahead to this week’s LIV Golf event, the player who finishes in the top spot is projected to snag approximately 23 world-ranking points. To put that in perspective, this is less than half of the points awarded to winners on the PGA Tour. For instance, Justin Rose recently walked away with about 61 points for his impressive victory at the Farmers Insurance Open.
Field Sizes and Tournament Structure
When analyzing the differences between LIV Golf and other tours, one cannot ignore the field size. LIV Golf events have an average of just 57 players, significantly smaller than the OWGR’s minimum requirement of 75 players. Moreover, LIV Golf tournaments operate without cuts, presenting a different challenge and dynamic compared to traditional formats.