PGA Tour Gains Leverage After LIV Denied World Rankings Points

LIV Golf’s application with the Official World Golf Ranking board has been denied, giving the PGA Tour an upper hand in its negotiations with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. 

The talks have a self-imposed Dec. 31 deadline for completion.

OWGR board chair Peter Dawson cited the makeup of LIV’s tournament fields as a major reason for not giving the league rankings points. With a few exceptions, LIV has largely featured the same players in every event this season, and many are signed to long-term contracts regardless of performance. Most global tours have a turnover rate of up to 25%.

Without further legitimization for LIV, its financial backers in the PIF lose some negotiating power to finalize an agreement with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour — and follow through on its desire to incorporate a team aspect into the future of professional golf.

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan initially said he didn’t envision a scenario where LIV would exist long-term under the new Saudi partnership, but has since provided less detail regarding his vision. 

Been Here Before

A year ago, LIV attempted to hastily partner with the MENA Tour to receive world rankings points, an effort that ultimately failed.

Prior to that, LIV had started to try to persuade the OWGR to retroactively assign rankings points for its 2022 events. Its initial application was made in July 2022.