The Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) has long been a trusted way to identify the best golfers in the world. However, its current system is raising concerns among players and fans about its accuracy and relevance in today’s game.
The OWGR is still an important factor in deciding who qualifies for Major tournaments, especially for the top 50 players. But it’s failing to capture the true state of professional golf, especially with the rise of alternative tours like the LIV Golf League.
LIV Golf and the OWGR System
LIV Golf recently withdrew its application for Official World Golf Ranking points, leaving its players without a chance to earn rankings. This is a big problem since the OWGR is essential for qualifying in all four Majors.
Unfortunately, the current system overlooks the strength of players in alternative tours. For example, Adrian Meronk, who competed in all four Majors in 2024, now faces the possibility of missing out on future Majors despite his strong performances.
Ranking Challenges
This ranking issue is significant and needs immediate attention.
Notable players like Brooks Koepka (87th), Patrick Reed (124th), and Dustin Johnson (506th) are ranked much lower than their skill suggests. Similarly, former stars like Sergio Garcia (439th), Martin Kaymer (995th), and Lee Westwood (3279th) are far from where they should be in the rankings.
The OWGR system currently favors the PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour while leaving alternative tours like LIV Golf with minimal recognition. This imbalance prevents fans from watching the best players compete in Majors such as the Masters, U.S. Open, Open Championship, and PGA Championship.
Why the Rankings Must Change
Golf fans expect to see the world’s best players competing on the biggest stages, but the current OWGR system creates unnecessary obstacles. Players in the LIV Golf League, unless they are past Major winners, struggle to qualify for these events.
This imbalance is clear and must be resolved. By the end of 2025, the hope is that the OWGR will be revised to fairly represent the current state of the game.
Until then, the rankings continue to undermine the sport by failing to reflect the true strength and talent of the world’s top golfers.
