LIV Golf awaits possible Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) decision this week

LIV Golf may soon learn whether its events will finally be recognised by the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) system, with a decision potentially arriving before the end of the week.

The OWGR board is due to convene on Wednesday, and while LIV Golf’s application is not expected to be formally voted on during that meeting, there remains a possibility that clarity could emerge in the days that follow. The Associated Press reported on Tuesday that a ruling is not off the table by week’s end.

The Saudi-backed league has spent recent months attempting to address the criteria required for world ranking eligibility. Changes have included larger tournament fields, the introduction of qualification routes into the league, and a shift away from its original 54-hole format in favour of standard 72-hole events.

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Despite those adjustments, LIV’s closed-shop model continues to present a major stumbling block. Unlike traditional tours, players do not typically earn their place through competitive promotion or relegation — a core principle valued by the OWGR.

OWGR chairman Trevor Immelman previously pointed to that issue as the league’s most significant barrier. Speaking last month, he emphasised the importance of merit-based access within professional golf.

“A huge part of this sport is earning your way onto a tour and playing to keep your status,” Immelman said. “That pathway simply hasn’t existed for most LIV players.”

With LIV Golf’s 2026 season scheduled to begin next week in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, pressure is mounting for a definitive outcome on whether its tournaments will soon carry world ranking points.