LIV Golf has strongly criticised what it describes as an “unprecedented” decision by the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR), after learning that only the top 10 finishers at LIV events will be awarded world ranking points.
Earlier this week, the OWGR board confirmed that LIV Golf players will finally be eligible to earn ranking points — a major shift following years of exclusion. While LIV welcomed the announcement as a long-awaited acknowledgment of its status in professional golf, it expressed serious dissatisfaction with the restrictions attached to the ruling.
The Saudi Arabia-backed league, which begins its fifth season in Riyadh, has 57-player fields. Under the new framework, only the top 10 finishers at each LIV event will receive OWGR points. LIV argues this puts its players at a significant disadvantage compared to competitors on other tours.
Across the 24 other men’s professional tours recognised by OWGR, all players who make the cut earn ranking points. LIV, however, operates no-cut tournaments, meaning players finishing outside the top 10 will receive nothing — regardless of performance.
In a strongly worded statement, LIV Golf said the ruling was without precedent in the history of world golf rankings.
“No other tour or league has ever faced such a restriction,” the statement said. “A player finishing 11th in a LIV Golf event is treated the same as a player finishing last. This disproportionately penalises players who consistently perform well but narrowly miss the top 10.”
LIV believes this approach undermines the credibility of a ranking system that is meant to reflect performance rather than tour affiliation.
The OWGR board defended its decision, stating that the limited allocation of points was necessary because LIV Golf does not fully comply with existing eligibility requirements.
In its explanation, OWGR said the move to award points was made “to reflect the changing landscape of men’s professional golf,” while also acknowledging that LIV’s structure differs significantly from traditional tours.
One major concern highlighted by OWGR is field size. LIV events feature an average of 57 players, well below the minimum requirement of 75 players outlined in OWGR regulations for 2026. The league’s no-cut format was another sticking point, as all players compete across all rounds regardless of performance.
OWGR also criticised LIV’s player recruitment model, noting that entry into the league is limited and does not rely on open, merit-based qualification. Only two places are filled via the Asian Tour’s International Series, while three more come from a promotions event described as “closed.”
Additionally, OWGR raised concerns about players being selected or removed from teams based on nationality rather than competitive results, arguing that this undermines meritocracy.
Despite these criticisms, OWGR acknowledged that LIV Golf is evolving. From 2026, all 14 LIV events will be played over 72 holes, an increase from the traditional 54-hole format used previously.
The board also noted that LIV is planning further structural changes for the 2027 season, which will continue to be reviewed.
LIV Golf responded by saying it views the current decision as only the beginning of a longer process.
“We expect this to be a first step toward a ranking system that is fully fair to players and credible for fans,” the league said. “We entered discussions in good faith and will continue to push for a system that rewards performance, not affiliation.”
LIV also called for greater transparency, stating that the sport’s integrity depends on rankings that treat all players equally.
OWGR chairman Trevor Immelman, the 2008 Masters champion, admitted the process had been extremely difficult. He described the seven months since LIV’s most recent application as “complex and challenging.”
Immelman said OWGR had to balance recognising the world’s best players with protecting the integrity of ranking systems used by thousands of golfers worldwide.
“We needed a solution that allowed elite LIV players to earn points, while remaining fair to those competing on tours with long-established qualification pathways,” he said. “We believe we have found a compromise that meets both objectives.”
Under the new system, the winner of this week’s LIV Golf season opener is projected to earn 23.03 OWGR points. That figure is comparable to events on the DP World Tour, where winners typically receive around 25 points.
By contrast, the winner of this week’s WM Phoenix Open on the PGA Tour is expected to earn 59 points, while PGA Tour signature events award as many as 66 points to the winner.
Even PGA Tour events with reduced fields and no cuts — such as the FedEx Cup Playoffs — award around 37 points to the champion, significantly more than LIV’s allocation.
As a result, LIV players will need a sustained series of top finishes just to make modest progress in the world rankings. This presents a challenge for players hoping to qualify for golf’s biggest tournaments.
OWGR points play a crucial role in determining eligibility for the four major championships, including The Masters, The Open, the US Open and the PGA Championship. Rankings are calculated on a rolling two-year basis, with recent results weighted more heavily.
Currently, only two LIV golfers sit inside the world’s top 50: England’s Tyrrell Hatton (22nd) and American Bryson DeChambeau (33rd). Five other LIV players are ranked inside the top 100, including Jon Rahm, who sits at 97th.
DeChambeau and Rahm are protected by existing exemptions that allow them to continue competing in major championships. However, many other LIV players risk falling out of contention without consistent access to ranking points.
The situation has become even more fluid in recent weeks, with several high-profile players leaving LIV Golf. Five-time major champion Brooks Koepka and former Masters winner Patrick Reed are among those who have returned to the PGA Tour, highlighting the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the professional game’s fractured structure.
As LIV Golf continues its campaign for broader recognition, the debate over fairness, access and credibility in world rankings is far from over.
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