The attraction of big money and a fresh start drew many golfers to the controversial LIV Golf series. But for some players the story is quite different as a critical promise made during recruitment seems to have gone unfulfilled.
Carlos Ortiz , a Mexican golfer who joined LIV in its inaugural season dropped a huge bomb regarding his league and claimed in a podcast interview via Subpar that players were “definitely” told they would receive Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points eventually. Keeping this in mind many players decided to switch leagues but did not receive the promised points.
They definitely said that we were gonna get them. We haven’t got them. But I just feel that people have to recognise that there is good players here, you know. Carlos Ortiz on LIV Golf promising them about OWGR points on SubPar podcast.
This had a direct impacted on his ranking which drastically dropped down from 115th to 1,229th since joining LIV. Ortiz though isn’t alone. Many LIV golfers find themselves in a similar problem, their rankings taking a hit due to the lack of OWGR points for the series.
It’s not like that LIV Golf has not tried their best in solving this issue. The officials had made efforts to gain OWGR recognition, including applying for discussions with the ranking body but had no luck. Later the OWGR president Peter Dawson said that LIV’s format and qualification criteria is quite different from other leagues and that giving points in PGA Tours are very much different from LIV.
Who is Carlos Ortiz?
As the first event of the LIV Golf 2024 season concluded, winner Joaquin Neimann‘s OWGR rankings dropped. This led to his Torque GC teammate Carlos Ortiz speak about it. Many fans though have been unversed with him. So how exactly is Ortiz?
Born in 1991, Ortiz developed his skills in his native Mexico before honing them further at the University of North Texas. where, he became a standout performer, Winning his first-ever Conference USA championship title in 2011. He also has won a bronze medal at the 2011 Summer Universiade.
Becoming professional in 2013, Ortiz played had a really well Web.com Tour. He claimed three victories in his first full season, including the Panama Claro Championship, which eventually earned him a PGA Tour card for 2015.
On the PGA Tour, Ortiz continued to impress, clinching his first Tour win at the 2020 Vivint Houston Open. This victory, achieved with a dramatic playoff birdie, cemented his place among the rising stars of the game. He consistently challenged on the Tour, clinching several top-10 finishes and climbing as high as 44th in the world rankings.
In June 2022, Ortiz made a brave call, joining the newly formed LIV Golf series. Despite the controversy surrounding the league, he favored the innovative format and attractive financial package as key factors in making his decision. While the move came with the sacrifice of OWGR points, Ortiz remains confident in his future and the potential of LIV Golf to change the sport in good manner.
Ortiz’s success is not just limited to the course. He actively supports various charities and promotes golf in his region, La Barranca is the charitable foundation that is supported by Carlos in his hometown.
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