Jon Rahm welcomes that LIV Golf League events will finally be awarded world ranking points, but believes there is “more work to be done” to address the ruling, which “doesn’t seem fair”.
The Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) confirmed on Tuesday that it will recognize LIV Golf for the first time ahead of its fifth season, which kicks off this week in Saudi Arabia, but world ranking points will only be awarded to players who finish in the top 10 in that event.
LIV Golf said the announcement was a “long-awaited moment of recognition” but that it “unfairly negatively impacts players who consistently play at a high level but finish just below that standard” and players who finish 11th or lower in the 57-player field will still not earn points.
Tyrrell Hatton and Rahm can now earn world ranking points from LIV golf events
OWGR said that although LIV Golf is issuing ranking points “to reflect the changing landscape of the men’s professional game”, there are “many areas” where the eligibility criteria have not been met, despite increasing events to 72 holes and changing relegations.
“In a way, it’s great that we’re being recognized,” Rahm said after the season opener in Riyadh. “That being said, I don’t like that we’re not treated the same as other tours.
“The previous rules don’t seem to apply to us very well, only 10 of us can get points. It’s not fair. In the small fields that are there all year round, players can get full points.
“There’s work to be done. It’s good for some people, but finishing 11th is basically missing out on the cut, so some players could actually end up losing world ranking points instead of gaining them. And we’re already adding up the divisor.”
“But I’m grateful that LIV Golf has stepped in. We can step into the space and be recognized as the tour that we’re meant to be.”
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Rory McIlroy previously described LIV Golf’s decision to expand the event to 72 holes as “bizarre”
Rahm’s opinion was supported by former Ryder Cup stars Martin Kaymer and Ian Poulter, who questioned the way ranking points were limited to a small portion of LIV Golf’s lineup.
“There are a lot of different opinions,” Poulter said Wednesday. “First of all, I think it’s good that LIV has finally been recognized. After all these years, we should be able to get points, so that’s a big plus.”
“On the flip side, I don’t really understand the algorithm they used to figure out the points.”
Kaymer added: “On the one hand, it’s great that we have the chance to perform and earn world ranking points. It’s been a long time coming for us, but we believe this is a step in the right direction.”
“On the other hand, I wish more athletes had earned more world ranking points. Finishing 11th to 15th in some events is a huge effort and is a good achievement, but you get zero points. That’s the downside.”
“I think we should focus on the positives. This is a step in the right direction and let’s see where we can go from here.”
Full text of LIV Golf’s statement regarding the world ranking update
“The stated mission of the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) is to ‘maintain and publish transparent, reliable and accurate rankings based on the relative performance of players participating in eligible men’s golf tours around the world,'” reads a full statement from LIV Golf released Tuesday after the OWGR announced the update.
“We recognize this long-awaited moment of recognition, which confirms the fundamental principle that on-course performance should matter, regardless of where the competition takes place.
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Tiger Woods says Brooks Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour is important to the game, explaining that fans want to see the best players compete
“However, this result is unprecedented. Under these rules, a player who finishes 11th in an LIV golf event will be treated the same as a player who finishes 57th.”
“Restricting points to players in the top 10 does an unfair disservice to players who consistently perform at high levels but finish just below that threshold, as well as emerging talent striving to establish themselves on the world stage, the very players that our fair, meritocratic ranking system is designed to evaluate.
“No other competitive tour or league in OWGR’s history has been subject to restrictions like this. We are hopeful that this is just the first step toward a structure that fully and fairly serves the future of our players, fans, and the sport.”
“We are participating in this process in good faith and will continue to advocate for a ranking system that reflects performance over affiliation. The game needs transparency. Fans need trust and players deserve a system that treats them equally.”
Sky Sports Golf lets you watch the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, Majors and more live all season long. Get Sky Sports now and stream without a contract.
