LIV Golf finally awarded OWGR points – but major concerns remain

LIV Golf will finally receive Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points this season, ending one of the most contentious standoffs in modern men’s professional golf.

The decision was confirmed ahead of LIV Golf’s 2026 season opener in Riyadh, marking a significant moment for the Saudi-backed league after years of exclusion from the world ranking system.

However, while the announcement represents a breakthrough, the reality may fall short of what many LIV players had hoped for.

• LIV Golf FUMING with OWGR decision

Under the newly approved framework, OWGR points will only be awarded to the top 10 finishers in LIV’s 57-man fields. 

That stands in stark contrast to the rest of men’s professional golf, where all players making the cut on OWGR-recognised tours earn ranking points.

The limited distribution immediately restricts the potential impact on LIV players’ world rankings and, crucially, their ability to qualify for golf’s major championships.

How many OWGR points are on offer at LIV Golf events?

The winner of LIV Riyadh – the first of 14 events on the 2026 schedule – is projected to receive 23.03 OWGR points.

That figure places LIV events broadly in line with PGA Tour opposite-field events and standard DP World Tour tournaments (around 25 points), but well below:

• FedEx Cup Fall events (approximately 37 points)
• PGA Tour Signature Events (66 points)
• The WM Phoenix Open, which is expected to award around 59 points to the winner

In practical terms, LIV players will likely need a sustained run of top finishes to make any meaningful movement up the rankings.

OWGR explains decision

OWGR chairman Trevor Immelman acknowledged the complexity of the process and the balancing act required to include LIV without undermining the system’s broader principles.

“This has been an incredibly complex and challenging process and one which we have devoted a huge amount of time and energy to resolving in the seven months since LIV Golf submitted their application,” Immelman said.

“We fully recognised the need to rank the top men’s players in the world but at the same time had to find a way of doing so that was equitable to the thousands of other players competing on other tours that operate with established meritocratic pathways.

“We believe we have found a solution that achieves these twin aims and enables the best-performing players at LIV Golf events to receive OWGR points.”

Immelman also praised LIV CEO Scott O’Neil and his team for their cooperation, confirming that the new approach will be implemented immediately for the 2026 season.

Why LIV was previously rejected?

The OWGR decision document again highlights the long-standing concerns that previously kept LIV outside the ranking system.

In a letter dated 10 October 2023, former OWGR chairman Peter Dawson made clear that LIV’s promotion, relegation and meritocracy structures did not meet the threshold required for inclusion.

“In order to obtain inclusion in the OWGR system, it is necessary for you to develop a structure that invites new players based on objective, recent performance and relegates under-performing players more quickly and equitably,” Dawson wrote.

While LIV has made incremental changes since then, the OWGR notes that progress has been limited.

Promotion and Relegation still under scrutinny

LIV’s current pathway includes five promotion spots – three from its Promotions Event and two from the International Series – representing 8.8% of a 57-man field.

By comparison, the PGA Tour promotes roughly 22% of its fields annually, with other global tours offering even greater turnover. Since 2023, LIV has added just one additional pathway spot, continuing to prioritise contracted players and guaranteed starts.

The OWGR also criticised LIV’s relegation model, describing it as inequitable and discriminatory.

In 2025, four players who finished in the so-called “open zone” were removed from teams despite finishing ahead of others who retained their places. Among them was Japan’s Jinichiro Kozuma, who reportedly learned via social media that he would not be retained by Iron Heads GC.

Other players affected included Matt Jones, Kevin Na and Max Lee.

Conversely, Luis Masaveu finished 52nd in the season-long points standings – below the official “drop zone” – yet remained with Fireballs GC.

OWGR also raised concerns about nationality-based team selection, noting that six of LIV’s 13 teams reflect national or regional identities, which it says conflicts with OWGR’s non-discrimination standards.

Long road to acceptance

LIV initially applied for OWGR recognition in 2022 but was formally rejected in October 2023, a decision that angered then-commissioner Greg Norman. LIV withdrew its application in 2024 before resubmitting under new CEO Scott O’Neil ahead of the 2025 Masters.

In an effort to improve its case, LIV expanded events from 54 to 72 holes and increased player turnover at the end of the season.

The PGA Tour responded with a brief statement, saying:

“We respect today’s decision by the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) Governing Board and the considerable time the Board and Chairman Immelman committed to this process.”

What it means for LIV players

While the headline reads as a major win for LIV Golf, the fine print ensures the debate is far from over.

OWGR points are now on the table – but only for a select few each week, and at levels that may still leave many LIV players on the outside looking in when it comes to major championship qualification.