More OWGR Fallout: Jon Rahm Rips System, PGA Tour Pro Says LIV Should Get Invitations to Majors

LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman’s move of pulling his circuit’s application to receive Official World Golf Ranking points (which was already denied last year) has certainly brought the issue back to the forefront.

Talor Gooch and Joaquin Niemann have expressed their frustration with the OWGR, and now, Jon Rahm has again taken aim at the rankings.

A couple years ago, Rahm said it was “laughable” that a DP World Tour event with several of the world’s top golfers only received a fraction of OWGR points than a fall PGA Tour event at Sea Island, Georgia. He continues to stand by those comments.

Rahm told reporters Wednesday in advance of LIV Golf Hong Kong:

“I’m going to be honest, I didn’t know they were still trying to get world ranking points. But the one thing I can say is I’m going to back to what I said two years ago in the DP World Tour Championship. I didn’t think it was a good system back then. And if anything, the more time that goes on, the more it proves to be wrong.”

Best current LIV player in Joaquin Niemann was in danger of missing the first two majors of the year because of the world ranking mess. The majors weren’t about to let that happen. Can’t understand how the OWGR continues down this path. https://t.co/jG9JEEbmdT

— Dan Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) March 4, 2024

In Orlando, Florida, before the PGA Tour’s Arnold Palmer Invitational—a signature event that features that circuit’s top golfers—Adam Scott commented on Niemann receiving special invitations to the Masters and PGA Championship.

“In the long run we need [invitations] to happen,” said Scott. “Ultimately we need that to happen, but what I don’t think needs to happen is like knee-jerk reactions to a change just because there’s been a change to the environment. It needs to be figured out what’s best for the long run, not just this year’s events.”

Rahm is also happy that Niemann was extended those invitations, which were said to be over his win at the PGA Australian Open and not due to him winning two of the first three LIV events of the season. Gooch, who was the LIV champion in 2023, did not make the cut in any majors and saw his ranking plummet.

Jon Rahm on Joaco Niemann being invited to The Masters:

“It’s a man who deserves it and not only that, he’s shown that he wants it. He’s gone all over the world playing DP World Tour events, International Series events, and he’s actually earned his way in to other majors. It’s… pic.twitter.com/08yrrC33ZB

— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) March 1, 2024

The defending Masters champion called for a new system that reflects the game as a whole.

Rahm said:

“I think anybody who watches golf can tell who the best players in the world are. Obviously I don’t think the ranking is reflective of that right now to its entirety.”

Cover Image via ESPN