The LIV Golf league, mainly backed by Arabia Saudita, has resubmitted its application to the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) to have its players receive points in the global standings.

This move suggests that the reunification of professional men’s Golf will not happen immediately and highlights LIV Golf’s growing international presence. 

Trevor Immelman, chairman of the OWGR board, confirmed that the application was received on June 30 and the review process has already begun.

“The OWGR Board is committed to thoroughly evaluating all applications, and LIV Golf’s submission will be reviewed according to OWGR criteria to ensure fairness, integrity, and consistency,” said Immelman, former Masters champion and current CBS Sports lead golf analyst. 

Under CEO Scott O’Neil, LIV Golf aims for its tournaments to be officially recognized. Previously, under the leadership of Greg Norman, LIV Golf applied for accreditation in July 2022 but was rejected in October 2023 by OWGR.

Concerns focused on the league’s competitive structure, particularly the absence of promotion and relegation and the combination of individual and team competitions. 

The OWGR board is scheduled to meet next week in Royal Portrush during the British Open, though a decision on the application is unlikely at that meeting.

Currently, LIV players earn ranking points only by participating in major championships or international tour events such as the DP World Tour and Asian Tour. OWGR points are crucial, as the four major men’s tournaments use this ranking to exempt players from qualifying.

The players’ opinion

Two-time US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau is LIV’s highest-ranked player at 15th, while Tyrrell Hatton is 22nd. Other major winners like Patrick Reed (57), Jon Rahm (68), Brooks Koepka (276), and Dustin Johnson (957) rank further down. 

In late April, LIV Golf resumed talks with OWGR under O’Neil’s leadership. In a statement, the CEO expressed willingness to collaborate: “We thank OWGR Chairman Trevor Immelman for his leadership and commitment. LIV Golf is committed to working with the board to ensure the top players compete in the sport’s most prestigious events. We are confident our application addresses pending issues to support a more global, comprehensive, and accurate ranking system.” 

This renewed attempt for inclusion in the ranking represents a strategic move to establish the Arabia Saudita-backed golf league in the international arena, demonstrating its interest in legitimizing competitions and strengthening the global presence of Golf.