LIV Golf Players Blast OWGR as a ‘Mockery’

Several LIV Golf players have spoken out against the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), calling the system outdated and unfair. Their criticism came after the recent release of updated rankings, which showed dramatic shifts for players who performed well at The Open Championship.

Westwood Critical of Official World Golf Rankings

Veteran golfer Lee Westwood has called the Official World Golf Ranking a “mockery.” Westwood, who finished tied for 34th at The Open, jumped an incredible 3,759 places—from being unranked to No. 930. He is now back ahead of his son Sam, a mini-tour player who is currently ranked 2,759th in the world. He said such wild movement proves that the system no longer reflects the true performance and quality of players, especially those competing on the LIV Golf tour.

“I think that just proves that without world ranking points it makes a bit of a mockery of the system,” Westwood said.

LIV Golf events are currently not awarded OWGR points. That means many top players who joined LIV have dropped far down the rankings, even though they continue to play at a high level. Dustin Johnson, a former world No. 1, once fell outside the top 900 before a T23 finish last week lifted him to 571st. Jon Rahm, another major champion, has also seen a significant decline. Only two LIV players—Bryson DeChambeau (No. 16) and Tyrrell Hatton (No. 21)—remain in the top 50, largely due to strong performances in majors.

This issue has made it harder for LIV players to qualify for major championships. Most majors rely on OWGR points to decide who gets into the field. Since LIV players don’t earn any points in regular events, they must rely on past wins, exemptions, or special invitations.

OWGR Reviewing LIV Golf Application Amidst Criticism

The OWGR board rejected LIV’s first application for ranking points in October 2023. One of the main reasons was the format of LIV events. LIV tournaments are 54 holes (instead of the standard 72), have no cut, and feature a team competition alongside individual play. These differences have made it difficult for the OWGR to evaluate LIV players fairly compared to those in traditional formats.