LIV Golf Condemns 'Unprecedented' World Ranking Points Restriction
The Saudi Arabian-backed LIV Golf tour has expressed strong dissatisfaction with what it describes as victimisation from golf's world ranking authorities, despite finally securing recognition after a nearly four-year wait. This development comes as prominent golfers who joined the breakaway league, including former world number one Dustin Johnson, have seen their rankings plummet dramatically due to the previous lack of points allocation.
Limited Points Allocation Sparks Controversy
It was confirmed on Monday that competitors in LIV tournaments will now receive official world golf ranking points, but with a significant caveat: only those finishing in the top 10 will be rewarded. A statement from the Official World Golf Ranking board explained that this decision "recognises there are a number of areas where LIV Golf does not meet the eligibility standards set out."
Since LIV competition began in 2022, the OWGR has not awarded any points to participants, leading to a steep decline in the rankings for many high-profile players. For instance, Cameron Smith has dropped to 221st place, Sergio García now sits at 363rd, and Dustin Johnson has fallen to a staggering 662nd position in the global standings.
LIV Golf's Strongly Worded Response
Rather than celebrating what might be seen as a partial victory, LIV Golf issued a sharply critical statement in response to the OWGR's announcement. The tour acknowledged "this long overdue moment of recognition" which affirms that "performance on the course should matter, regardless of where the competition takes place."
However, LIV representatives emphasised their concerns about the restrictive nature of the new arrangement. "This outcome is unprecedented," the statement declared. "Under these rules, a player finishing 11th in a LIV Golf event is treated the same as a player finishing 57th. Limiting points to only the top-10 finishers disproportionately harms players who consistently perform at a high level but finish just outside that threshold."
The organisation argued that this restriction particularly disadvantages emerging talent working to establish themselves on the world stage – precisely the players a fair and meritocratic ranking system should recognise. "No other competitive tour or league in OWGR history has been subjected to such a restriction," LIV Golf asserted.
OWGR's Justification and Ongoing Evaluation
The OWGR board expanded on their decision-making process, stating that their "overriding aim was to identify an equitable way of ranking the best men's players in the world, including the top performing players in LIV Golf." This consideration had to account for the eligibility standards that LIV Golf does not currently meet and the fact that it operates differently from other ranked tours in several respects.
Specific concerns highlighted by the ranking body include LIV Golf's average field size of 57 for 2026, which falls short of the minimum 75 required by OWGR regulations. Other issues cited were the tour's exclusively no-cut events, restrictive pathways for joining the league, self-selection of players who are often recruited rather than earning their place through traditional meritocratic channels, and recent decisions to add or remove players from teams based on nationality rather than performance.
The OWGR confirmed it will "continue to evaluate" LIV's competitive status, suggesting this arrangement might be subject to future adjustments as the tour evolves.
Troubled Backdrop for 2026 Season
This ranking controversy emerges as LIV Golf prepares for its 2026 season against a challenging backdrop. The tour has recently seen significant departures, with high-profile players Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed choosing to exit and return to the PGA Tour. These moves highlight ongoing tensions within professional golf as the sport continues to navigate the division created by the emergence of the Saudi-backed circuit.
LIV Golf concluded its statement by expressing hope that this development represents "merely a first step toward a structure that fully and fairly serves the players, the fans, and the future of the sport." The organisation pledged to continue advocating for "a ranking system that reflects performance over affiliation," emphasising that "the game deserves transparency, the fans deserve credibility, and the players deserve a system that treats them equally."
