12 October 2023 , 15:45
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A whole host of LIV Golf stars have hit out at the Official World Golf Rankings' (OWGR) decision to reject the breakaway circuit's application for ranking points, including Open champion Cam Smith.
It was confirmed on Tuesday that OWGR had opted to deny LIV's latest request to gain world ranking status, due to the Saudi-backed league failing to meet the required criteria followed by 24 other professional tours. LIV officials were quick to hit back in a scathing statement, questioning the legitimacy of the ranking system without its events included.
In the aftermath a number of the breakaway circuit's players have slammed the decision too, including LIV Golf's highest ranking golfer Smith, who currently sits No. 15th in the world, having been second when signing with Greg Norman and co just over a year ago.
READ MORE: Phil Mickelson explains LIV rejection with stern four-point explanation and PGA Tour dig
Toeing the line of his tour, Smith said ahead of this week's event in Jeddah: "I think it (the OWGR) is almost obsolete now… We've got some guys out here who are playing some of the best golf in the world & they're outside the top 100, 200 in the world. It's pretty ridiculous."
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A similar point was also shared by former Masters champion Dustin Johnson, who questioned the decision to snub some of the world's best golfers from the rankings due to their tour status. "I feel like you can't really use the world ranking system any more," Johnson said.
"It's hard to use the world ranking system if you're excluding 48 guys that are good players. The rankings are skewed.” Another ex-green jacket winner and Johnson's 4Aces teammate Patrick Reed continued the criticism, labelling the current ranking system 'broken' without the inclusion of LIV events.
Patrick Reed believes the world rankings are 'broken' (Getty Images)He added: "Obviously it's disappointing… Until the actual world ranking reflects the actual top players in the world, then to me it's just kind of a broken system. Just because we play on a different tour, it shouldn't matter." The big issue surrounding LIV players and their ranking is their eligibility to compete at major championships.
The further their fall continues the less likely they are to earn a spot in the sport's four flagship events. One man who offered an alternative on the back of the ranking snub was Bryson DeChambeau, who believes LIV deserve their own qualifying criteria to earn spots at the Masters, Open Championship, U.S. Open and PGA Championship.
" I think at this point in time now that they’re not allowing it, we would love to find another way to be integrated into the major championship system since I think we have some of the best players in the world,” DeChambeau said at LIV Jeddah. "Top 12 on the list, the money list, at the end of the year or the points list at the end of the year, would be I think obvious for the major championships to host the best players in the world at those four events each year.”
Bryson DeChambeau offered an alternative major qualification process for LIV golfers (AP)The rejection was also addressed by Phil Mickelson who took to Twitter (X) to have his say, telling former Masters champion Trevor Immelman that LIV's previous rivalry with the PGA Tour had something to do with the OWGR's decision. Mickelson tweeted : " Trevor, LIV was NEVER going to get points. Why? 1) It’s a monopoly run by all the governing bodies 2) the PGA Tour tv contract is based on owgr criteria for them to get all their money 3) they would lose leverage in negotiations if LIV got points.
"4) last but not least, Tour has BORROWED against the tv deal! If they don’t hit their bench marks and don’t get all their tv money(from CBS :) they will have an immediate capital call. Don’t believe me? Ask Sean McManus." Responding to a critical fan, Mickelson went on to claim that he 'does not care' that LIV will operate without the awarding of ranking points.