LIV Golf is Nearing OWGR Qualification, Complicating Merger Talks Further

LIV Golf is reportedly nearing a pathway for its players to gain points in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), which could complicate merger talks as the PGA TOUR and the Saudi PIF, LIV’s main financier, are nearing potential unification.

Sportico is reporting that LIV Golf executives and OWGR reps are in “serious discussions about awarding rankings points to members of the Saudi-backed tour, according to multiple people familiar with the talks.”

This would be a major flip from the OWGR’s stance on LIV in the past, where it said that the league’s format did not qualify its players to be awarded points, which would, in turn, impact their world ranking and their ability to qualify for Major Championships on that merit.

Greg Norman Calls OWGR ‘Laughable’ as LIV Golf Stars Tumble Down the List

LIV has been trying to gain OWGR qualification since 2022, but when the agency made its decision, then-CEO Greg Norman basically abandoned any efforts to qualify tournaments for the points system. A switch of heart by the OWGR could lead to a more level playing field in terms of qualifying for Majors, could end "special invitations" by other Majors, like The Masters, and could have a true impact on the unification of golf.

Currently, Bryson DeChambeau is the highest-ranked LIV Golfer in the OWGR at 12th, but there are several names ahead of him that fans could argue do not necessarily deserve to be. 

LIV's non-qualifying status has caused many players, including several big names, to fall far down on the OWGR list. Dustin Johnson is far outside the top 200, and although his play has not been what it used to be, there are some names ahead of him that most golf fans would not take in a 1-on-1 match between the two.

The move could also complicate things between the PGA TOUR and the PIF, as LIV and the TOUR have been trying to unify golf's professional ranks. There has been some speculation that players like Brooks Koepka or DeChambeau might return to the TOUR, as it would benefit them to keep earning OWGR points to qualify for Majors.

This development could keep those names away, as earning points would not necessarily make the TOUR's more frequent schedule less attractive to those LIV players who have become accustomed to less golf.

The talks were not confirmed by LIV when Sportico asked for comment.

Cover Image via Sky Sports