Two-time major champion Jon Rahm has questioned the fairness of a new ruling by the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR), which will see only the top 10 finishers at LIV Golf events receive world ranking points.
Earlier this week, the OWGR board announced that LIV Golf players would, for the first time, be eligible to earn ranking points. However, unlike other recognised men’s professional tours, the Saudi Arabia-backed circuit will face strict limitations on how those points are distributed.
Across the 24 other men’s tours recognised by the OWGR, all players who make the cut earn ranking points. LIV Golf’s new arrangement breaks from that model, with only the top 10 players in each event eligible for points.
According to the OWGR board, the restriction has been applied because LIV Golf currently fails to meet several of the organisation’s eligibility standards. These include smaller field sizes and the way players are recruited rather than qualifying through traditional competitive pathways.
Speaking at LIV Golf’s season-opening event in Riyadh, Rahm welcomed the recognition but made it clear he was unhappy with the terms.
“It’s great that we’re finally being acknowledged in some way,” Rahm said. “But at the same time, I don’t like that we’re not being treated the same as every other tour.”
He added that the rules appeared to be applied differently to LIV Golf, creating an uneven playing field.
“Only 10 of us are getting points,” the Spaniard continued. “That doesn’t seem fair. On other tours with small fields throughout the year, every player still gets full points.”
Concerns Over Ranking Impact
Rahm warned that the new system could actually harm some LIV players’ world rankings rather than improve them. Under the OWGR calculation method, finishing outside the top 10 would be treated similarly to missing the cut altogether.
“Finishing 11th is basically the same as a missed cut,” Rahm explained. “And since we’re already adding events to the divisor, some players could end up losing ranking points instead of gaining them.”
Despite his concerns, Rahm acknowledged that LIV Golf’s inclusion in the rankings system is a step forward.
“I’m thankful LIV has at least got a foot in the door,” he said. “Now there’s a chance for us to sit at the table and be recognised as a proper tour, which we believe we are.”
Why OWGR Imposed Restrictions
In its official statement, the OWGR outlined several reasons for limiting ranking points at LIV Golf events. One major issue cited was average field size. For 2026, LIV events are projected to have an average of 57 players, well below the OWGR’s minimum requirement of 75 players.
The board also pointed to what it described as “self-selection of players”, arguing that many LIV golfers were recruited directly rather than earning their place through qualifying structures common on other tours.
These factors, the OWGR said, meant LIV Golf could not yet be treated in the same way as established tours within the rankings framework.
LIV Golf Pushes Back
LIV Golf has strongly criticised the OWGR decision, calling the approach “unprecedented”.
The circuit argued that under the new rules, a player finishing 11th in a LIV event would be treated the same as a player finishing last, despite competing against a field packed with elite talent.
LIV officials also highlighted inconsistencies in the OWGR system. They pointed to several tournaments with small fields and no cuts that still award ranking points to all participants.
Examples include:
- The Hero World Challenge, which features just 20 players
- The PGA Tour’s Tour Championship (30 players)
- The BMW Championship (49 players)
- The DP World Tour Championship (52 players)
LIV Golf argues that if those events qualify for full ranking points, its tournaments should be treated no differently.
Action on the Course: Riyadh Leaderboard
While debate over rankings continues, the focus on the course in Riyadh has been equally intense.
Belgian golfer Thomas Detry made a sensational start to his LIV Golf career, sharing the first-round lead on his debut. Detry fired a bogey-free seven-under-par 65, matching American Peter Uihlein at the top of the leaderboard.
“It’s my first day on the job, so there were definitely some nerves,” Detry admitted. “But it felt great to get going like that.”
Detry, who won the PGA Tour’s Phoenix Open last February, is part of Dustin Johnson’s 4Aces GC team.
Australia’s Elvis Smylie, another LIV rookie, sits just one shot back at six under par after an impressive opening round.
A group of high-profile names are close behind on five under, including:
- Jon Rahm
- Tyrell Hatton
- Talor Gooch
- Louis Oosthuizen
- Sebastian Munoz
- Byeong-Hun An
Further down the leaderboard, stars Bryson DeChambeau and Sergio Garcia finished the first round at four under par, remaining firmly in contention.
A New Format for LIV Golf
This event also marks a significant shift for LIV Golf, as the league has moved away from its traditional 54-hole format to a 72-hole tournament structure.
The change has been welcomed by some players and observers, who believe it brings LIV events closer to the formats used on other major tours, potentially strengthening its case for full OWGR recognition in the future.
What Comes Next?
While the OWGR has made it clear that it does not currently plan to revisit its regulations, the debate around LIV Golf’s status is far from over.
Players like Rahm believe continued dialogue is essential if the system is to be fair and consistent across professional golf.
For now, LIV golfers will compete knowing that only a top-10 finish will count toward their world ranking — a reality that adds extra pressure and fuels an ongoing battle for legitimacy within the sport.
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