There isn’t a leader among golf’s most important organising bodies who has been more bluntly critical of LIV Golf than PGA of America chief executive Seth Waugh.
There’s something to be said for the Official World Golf Ranking not changing its rules to appease LIV’s undeserved sense of entitlement… but that rigidness to the rules has likewise made the OWGR obsolete.
With LIV abandoning its designs for OWGR inclusion and the PGA Tour appearing no closer to an agreement with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia that would reunite all of the game’s top players, it appears that the OWGR system will continue to come under scrutiny. Even among tour players who benefit from the current situation.
Some on LIV Golf accepted what can only be estimated as generational wealth. Their omission from the OWGR is not a punishment, but the price of that payday.
Finishing runner-up at Pebble Beach moved Aberg all the way up to 11th in the world ranking, an amazing accomplishment considering the Swede turned pro only last June.
One effective impact of this change will be that players competing in limited-field, no-cut events are no longer guaranteed points simply for having qualified to play in the event.
LIV Golf’s application to receive Official World Golf Ranking points has been denied, according to reports from the Associated Press and Global Golf Post.
If there’s any consolation, Scheffler’s finish at Oak Hill did allow him to jump Jon Rahm and return to the top spot in the Official World Golf Ranking. Although that was news to Scheffler.
This is the time of the year where the PGA (Professional Golfers’ Association) of America vs PGA Tour confusion reaches its peak. Confusion reigns about what golf’s other main bodies do, too.
According to world-ranking guru Nosferatu, Fowler’s performance was good enough to move him to 50th in the world for the first time since January 2021.
Gooch’s situation highlights the growing pressure on the Official World Golf Ranking to remain relevant when it comes to qualifying for the men’s Majors.