Norman begs for LIV Golf players to be kept in world rankings: integrity is at risk!

The newly formed LIV Golf Tour, which is a direct competitor to the traditional PGA Tour, is trying to carve out its place in the sun, even though virtually everyone else is going against it. The same is the case with the inclusion of points in the OWGR (Official World Golf Ranking). That’s what the LIV, led by its chief Greg Norman, is trying to change.

On Wednesday, Greg Norman sent a letter to LIV Golf golfers stating that according to a fair, objective and impartial survey, they should be awarded the Official World Golf Ranking for their tournaments played under the LIV Golf banner in the near future.

Officials of the Saudi publicly-funded competition have made an official request to the OWGR. “Theinclusion of LIV Golf in the world points system is essential for the integrity, accuracy and fairness of the entire ranking,” reads the letter, which also reached ESPN’s email inbox.

Norman said the fairness and accuracy of the world rankings is in very serious jeopardy if it is not. “We trust that the members of the OWGR Board of Directors will understand and appreciate this key consideration and that they will treat this development with the respect it deserves,” the LIV commissioner said.

The problem, however, is that there are people sitting on the OWGR board who are not exactly fond of LIV Golf. The biggest obstacle is the PGA Tour Commissioner himself, Jay Monahan, who has issued a cease and desist order to LIV Gold defectors on the PGA Tour. He is one of the eight members of the OWGR board of directors.

Other members include DP World Tour CEO Keith Pelley, USGA CEO Mike Whan, PGA of America Executive Director Seth Waugh, National Golf Club Augusta Executive Director Will Jones and Keith Waters, who represents the International Federation of PGA Tours.

According to LIV Golf, the winners of the first three events would significantly improve their position in the world rankings. However, none of the tournaments in London, Portland or Bedminster were counted in the OWGR.

For example, South African player Charl Schwartzel, the inaugural winner in London, would have climbed from 125th to 85th. Branden Grace, who was first in Portland, would have moved from 128th to 78th and Henrik Stenson, the winner in Bedminster, would have improved from 173rd to 80th.

TOP 10 WORLD GOLF RANKINGS

1. Scottie Scheffler (USA)
2. Cameron Smith (AUS)
3. Rory McIlroy (IRL)
4. Patrick Cantaly (USA)
5. Jon Rahm (ESP)
6. Xander Schauffele (USA)
7. Justin Thomas (USA)
8. Collin Morikawa (USA)
9. Will Zalatoris (USA)
10. Viktor Hovland (NOR)

Currently, these players are even lower and continue to fall gradually. Norman said that as the current trend continues, the world rankings will become less and less accurate and devalued.

The world rankings are not only used to give some sort of overview of players’ status, but also determine, for example, the seeding of golfers for the Olympics or major tournaments. However, this plays into the hands of the PGA Tour, as their commissioner Jay Monahan would prefer to cut the defectors out of these events as well. Some PGA Tour players have even threatened a boycott if LIV Golf players show up at these tournaments.

OWGR board members accuse Norman and Co. that in order for the inclusion of results from LIV Golf tournaments to be up for debate, the event would have to be played on a classic 72-hole course (four rounds of 18 holes) and include “cutoffs,” where after the opening two rounds, a portion of the starting field in the tournaments would be eliminated.

But Norman sees that as nonsense, as even on the PGA Tour there are tournaments without a cut, such as the FedEx Cup playoffs currently underway. Still, those results are counted in the OWGR table.

Source:: LIG Golf, ESPN