LIV Golf members experience rise in world rankings

Several LIV Golf members enjoyed a surge in the world rankings this week following the season-opening tournament in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) announced last week that players in the Saudi-backed circuit would start receiving rankings points for the first time, although the benefits are limited to each event's top-10 finishers.

LIV Golf rookie Elvis Smylie of Australia jumped from 133rd in the rankings to 77th after winning his debut in Riyadh.

"It's a by-product of the great work I'm doing with my team and the good golf that I'm playing," said Smylie, 23. "If I continue to do that, then all that stuff will take care of itself. But it's definitely motivating for me to try to get into the Masters."

Riyadh runner-up Jon Rahm of Spain climbed from 93rd to 67th. Also seeing significant rises were Sebastian Munoz of Colombia (767th to 566th), Abraham Ancer (616th to 449th) and Thomas Pieters of Belgium (564th to 419th).

OWGR points are critical for earning entries into the season's four major tournaments. The top 50 the week before the Masters (rankings released March 30) will earn entries to Augusta, as will the top 60 ahead of the U.S. Open (May 18) and the top 50 for The Open Championship (May 25). The OWGR does not have an official exemption for the PGA Championship, where the top 100 typically are invited.