Masters champion Jon Rahm mentioned Wednesday that the Official World Golf Rating (OWGR) was not “a great system” after LIV Golf formally withdrew its software to affix.
LIV Golf commissioner Greg Norman on Tuesday despatched a letter to gamers, seen by AFP, saying the Saudi-funded breakaway circuit had ended its efforts to be accepted for world rankings recognition that started in July 2022.
“It’s now clear that one of the simplest ways ahead for LIV as a league and also you as LIV golfers shouldn’t be by the present rating system,” Norman mentioned.
“A decision which protects the accuracy, credibility and integrity of the OWGR rankings not exists.”
The OWGR, whose rankings are used to resolve exemptions into golf’s 4 main championships, denied LIV Golf’s bid final October.
“I’m going to return to what I mentioned two years in the past. I didn’t assume it was a great system again then,” Rahm informed reporters forward of LIV Hong Kong, which begins on Friday.
“If something, the extra time goes on, the extra it proves to be incorrect,” added the Spaniard, who solely left the PGA Tour for LIV in December and continues to be ranked world quantity three.
Fellow main champion Bryson DeChambeau mentioned it was incumbent on everybody working the sport to search out widespread floor.
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‘Do that for the followers’
“The way in which I give it some thought is we have to discover a collective method,” mentioned DeChambeau. “We should always deal with having the perfect gamers within the majors.
“All of the governing our bodies, all people, come collectively, sit down and determine this out. As a result of we have to do that for the followers.”
With LIV Golf gamers getting no factors from the circuit’s 54-hole occasions, most of the massive names that defected from the US PGA Tour have tumbled down the rankings.
Solely 4 of LIV’s 54-player roster are on this week’s OWGR prime 50, led by Spain’s Rahm.
The OWGR denied LIV’s software citing quite a few issues together with restricted paths to becoming a member of the tour. LIV made changes, Norman wrote, however “the OWGR has proven little willingness to productively work with us.”
LIV and PGA Tour gamers compete in opposition to one another at majors, with many LIV gamers having earned their method into the fields at golf’s 4 prime occasions based mostly on earlier achievements.
The majors could make exceptions and concern their very own invites, as has been performed this yr with Joaquin Niemann — arguably the most popular participant, having gained two out of three LIV tournaments this yr.
He gained the Australian Open in December to a British Open place and has been given particular invites into subsequent month’s US Masters and the US PGA Championship in Could.
“Now they’ve given one participant an opportunity, earlier than you realize it there can be an answer,” mentioned Rahm. “I believe it’s opening the door barely.
“If anyone on this world doesn’t assume ‘Joaco’ (Niemann) deserves to be within the prime 10 or doesn’t know that he’s a prime participant on this planet, I don’t know what recreation you’re watching.”
DeChambeau had a concrete suggestion for a method ahead.
“Simply invite a specific amount of gamers on our factors record (to the majors) based mostly on how they did the yr earlier than,” mentioned the 2020 US Open champion.
“They do it with (the PGA) Tour Championship, proper? Quite simple.”
Change ‘inevitable’
Some main PGA Tour gamers, talking forward of this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida, agreed that one thing wanted to be performed.
“I don’t know if damaged is the proper phrase,” mentioned PGA Tour coverage board member and world quantity six Patrick Cantlay.
“However I believe that there was a lot uncertainty and alter within the final couple years that it’s inevitable that issues must be up to date or modified.”
Former US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick thinks the OWGR shouldn’t be an correct barometer.
“I don’t assume the world rankings are a real illustration of the golf recreation on the minute,” mentioned the ninth-ranked Englishman.
“I don’t actually have a look at them or take note of them any extra.
“I don’t assume they’re proper.”