Hideki Matsuyama. Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports

2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama: LIV golfers should earn ranking points

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated Oct 11, 2022 10:48 AM ET

There's at least one prominent former major champion on the PGA Tour who believes that LIV Golf defectors should be able to earn Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points.

According to an Associated Press and ESPN report , 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama is in favor of LIV Golf players being eligible to earn ranking points.

"I think they should be able to," Matsuyama said, speaking in Japanese, at the Zozo Championship, which opens on Thursday. "However, there's a procedure they'll have to follow."

Matsuyama called the ranking-points question "difficult" and didn't offer any details, solutions, or clarifications, according to the report. The 30-year-old also confirmed his commitment to the PGA Tour, which he's been a part of since 2014.

First question out of the box at his presser in Japan, Hideki Matsuyama asked about his commitment to the PGA Tour: "I'm a member of the PGA Tour. Never been prouder, especially last week at the Presidents Cup. Yeah, I'm fully committed to the PGA Tour, I'm a member."
— Adam Schupak (@AdamSchupak) October 11, 2022

It was reported last week that LIV Golf was forming a strategic alliance with the MENA Tour in hopes to secure OWGR points for players in the breakaway league that is backed by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia.

Members of LIV Golf have been suspended by PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and haven't been able to pick up points during LIV Golf's first six events.

Victor Barbosa

Victor Barbosa is a passionate follower of MLB, the NBA and NFL, with a deep interest in Boston-area teams. He graduated from Springfield College -- The Birthplace of Basketball -- in 2013 with a degree in Communications-Sports Journalism. Previous bylines include FanSided, Heavy and Syracuse

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