OWGR Updates Its System and It Might Be Making Way for LIV Golf

The Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) updated its system by including two new rules for awarding points, and it seems like it might be making way to include LIV Golf in its processes.

The OWGR announced on Thursday that a new points distribution curve would award a greater percentage of available points to top finishers in fields of 80 players or less. This change applies to “all eligible Tours,” meaning it will affect the PGA Tour, European Tour, Asian Tour, PGA Tour Australasia, Japan Golf Tour, and Sunshine Tour, as well as smaller tours like the Korn Ferry and Challenge Tour.

OFFICIAL WORLD GOLF RANKING GOVERNING BOARD ANNOUNCES UPDATES TO THE RANKING SYSTEM

Read more here –https://t.co/uJ2HHlsm3y#OWGR#OfficialWorldGolfRanking pic.twitter.com/jArqVEDa6G

— OWGR (@OWGRltd) December 21, 2023

Additionally, Ranking Points will no longer be distributed to the bottom 15 percent of players in a no-cut event. This means that elevated, no-cut events on the PGA Tour, especially during the FedEx Cup Playoffs, will incentivize players to finish above the bottom 15 percent of leaderboards to obtain points.

Finally, the Governing Board will also award a 60 percent bonus to players who win for a second time within a 52-week period and a 70 percent bonus for those who win three or more times. This will give players a maximum of four bonus points.

Peter Dawson, the Chairman of the OWGR, said: 

“Based on extensive analysis following the changes implemented in August 2022, we recognized these two opportunities to further enhance the OWGR and to accurately evaluate performances of the world’s participating players on all eligible Tours. Adjustments to the Ranking are made after careful consideration, and we are confident that today’s updates will better position the OWGR for the future.”

While the OWGR said earlier this year that it would not change its terms to include LIV Golf, it seems things could potentially be moving in that direction.

The fact that no-cut events are now being considered, and one of the stipulations of that new rule was specifically for fields of 80 players or less, seems to fit the mold of LIV Golf. 

LIV’s tournaments pack 48 players into a three-day tournament with no cut. The format has been noted as the reason why the OWGR won’t award it points. However, the OWGR granted a 54-hole Tour the ability to gain points.

With the ongoing negotiations between the PGA Tour and the PIF, and with LIV getting yet another huge name in Jon Rahm, the promotion is becoming a true competitor to the Tour, and there is no doubt it is disrupting the flow of what was once considered “traditional” golf.

Perhaps the fact that LIV tournaments are one day shorter could bring in a new adjustment to the OWGR in 2024. Fewer or less-weighted points for these tournaments could be considered. With today’s announced changes, we can speculate that perhaps there is a chance LIV Golf will influence a change in how the OWGR is determined.

Cover Image via Fox News