UNDER THE MICROSCOPE
There has been a lot of talk of late about LIV players not receiving world ranking points, but how does the current system actually function?
What is the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR)?
It’s a system for rating the performance level of some professional golfers, with players accumulating points over a two-year rolling period to determine their ranking. A golfer’s world ranking is their points total divided by the number of events they’ve played. This creates an average score used to then rank players.
Are recent good performances factored in
In order to place additional emphasis on recent performances, points awarded for each tournament are maintained for a 13-week period. Points are then reduced in equal decrements for the remaining 91 weeks of the two-year ranking period.
How does a golfer receive world ranking points?
To qualify for a ranking, a player must play a minimum of 40 tournaments per two-year rolling period. Currently, players need to play on one of the 23 Eligible Golf Tours to receive world ranking points. Major Championships and Olympic Golf Competitions award points, but LIV Golf does not.
Why do LIV Golf players not receive world ranking points?
Last October, LIV applied to receive world ranking points but was denied over issues around competitive integrity. The Saudi-backed league’s no-cut, 54-hole format, limited access for players to join and limited relegation for those who don’t play well are all cited as potential reasons for refusal.
How does OWGR decide how many points are on offer at each tournament?
It gets a touch complicated here. Previously, how many points were on offer per event was decided b
