LIV Golf Reapplies for World Ranking Points
LIV Golf has submitted a new application for Official World Golf Ranking points, OWGR board chairman Trevor Immelman confirmed Friday.
“The OWGR board is committed to a thorough evaluation process of all applications, and LIV’s application will be reviewed in accordance with OWGR’s criteria to ensure fairness, integrity and consistency,” Immelman said in a statement. “We appreciate the interest of LIV Golf — and all tours — in contributing to the global landscape of men’s professional golf through OWGR. Further updates will be provided as the review progresses.”
This marks LIV’s second attempt to secure ranking points. Their initial application from July 2022 was rejected in October 2023 after a lengthy review process.
The previous OWGR chairman, Peter Dawson, made it clear the denial wasn’t politically motivated. “This decision not to make them eligible is not political. It is entirely technical. LIV players are self-evidently good enough to be ranked. They’re just not playing in a format where they can be ranked equitably with the other 24 tours and thousands of players trying to compete on them,” Dawson told the Associated Press.
The OWGR’s original concerns centered on several technical issues. LIV events don’t have cuts, feature limited field sizes, and most critically, lack significant player turnover from season to season.
While LIV does have a form of relegation through its “drop zone” — which includes the bottom portion of each year’s points list — players with guaranteed contracts are largely protected. The circuit currently offers just two pathways for new players: one spot through an annual promotion event and another via The International Series on the Asian Tour.
The ranking issue has become increasingly urgent for LIV players. When the circuit launched in 2022, it boasted 12 players ranked in the world’s top 50. Today, only Bryson DeChambeau (15th) and Tyrrell Hatton (22nd) remain in that elite group.
For many LIV stars, the rankings slide has been dramatic. Brooks Koepka, a five-time major champion, has fallen to 276th in the world.
This matters because world ranking points serve as a primary qualification pathway for major championships. The lack of points has forced some majors, including the PGA Championship and U.S. Open, to create special exemptions for top LIV players.
According to the OWGR, LIV submitted its latest application on June 30. If the previous review timeline is any indication, a decision could take more than a year.
The key question remains whether LIV has addressed the “closed shop” concerns that doomed its first application, or if the circuit plans to create more substantial pathways for players to qualify and compete.
LIV Golf did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
