LIV's biggest world ranking fallers as DeChambeau and Westwood dealt fresh blow
LIV Golf players are only set to continue their fall down the Official World Golf Rankings, after being dealt yet another blow earlier this week.
On Tuesday the OWGR confirmed they had denied LIV's latest bid for world ranking points, with issues surrounding their closed shop membership cited as the main issue behind their rejection. For all of its success across the past 16 months, its battle for OWGR status has proven to be LIV's Achilles heel.
When joining the breakaway league in June 2022, defecting players should have been more than aware that they would be competing without ranking points on offer in the early stages of their season.
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The hope will have been to acquire these points as quickly as possible, but as LIV closes in on its second completed season, the Saudi-funded league is yet to gain the ranking recognition it needs. Whilst players' career earnings have trended in a positive direction, their place in the rankings has not, and things are only set to get worse for those playing under the LIV name.
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From major champions to former world No. 1s, here is a look at some of LIV Golf's biggest fallers following their switch to the breakaway circuit.
Martin Kaymer
Pre-LIV ranking: 210
Current ranking: 1906
The biggest tumble in the rankings has been taken by German star Martin Kaymer, who has fallen a huge 1696 places since his move to the rebel league last summer. The former major champion and world No. 1 has seen his 2023 blighted by injury, and on the back of his Saudi switch has played in just two OWGR-recognised events, finishing in a tie for 36th at the 2022 BMW International Open, before missing the cut at this year's U.S. Open.
Martin Kaymer is LIV Golf's biggest fallerCarlos Ortiz
Pre-LIV ranking: 119
Current ranking: 793
Another LIV star whose ranking has felt the effects of a move to the breakaway league is Mexican Carlos Ortiz. Prior to his move Ortiz was one of the PGA Tour's consistent performers and found himself just outside the world's top 100, having previously been a top-50 player. Just over a year on though, the 32-year-old has fallen a mammoth 674 places and is at risk of falling outside the top 1000 in the coming months.
Matthew Wolff
Pre-LIV ranking: 77
Current ranking: 685
Once tipped to be one of golf's next big stars, things could not have gone more different now for Matthew Wolff. Having battled himself into 12th in the world following a remarkable rise in 2020, a number of injury issues and a move to LIV Golf have seen him drift out of the conversation over the past year. The former top-15 player has fallen over 600 places since signing on the dotted line with Greg Norman and Co.
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Jediah Morgan
Pre-LIV ranking: 239
Current ranking: 761
One of the many Australian golfers to join Norman and the LIV setup was Jed Morgan. Whilst getting the chance to compete for career-changing cash and teaming up with three of his country's top stars, Cam Smith, Marc Leishman and Matt Jones, Morgan is now facing relegation from the Saudi league in the face.
If he were to make the drop following LIV's relegation process in the winter, Morgan would find himself much worse off in the rankings than he was just over a year ago after falling 522 places.
Lee Westwood
Pre-LIV ranking: 74
Current ranking: 565
One of LIV Golf's biggest names is Lee Westwood. A former world No. 1 and one of the DP World Tour's greatest players, Westwood joined with quite the legacy, and world ranking having found himself still inside the world's top 100 at the age of 49. Following his 16-month spell with LIV Golf though, things are now much different for the Englishman who has fallen 491 places in under a year-and-a-half to find himself outside the world's top 500.
Lee Westwood has endured a tricky fall (AP)Kevin Na
Pre-LIV ranking: 33
Current ranking: 453
Once a top-20 player, things could not be more different for Kevin Na now. The five-time PGA Tour winner had been an ever-present at the top of the world of golf throughout his career, but his ranking has taken a hit since deciding to join LIV Golf. He now finds himself 420 places worse off after slipping outside the world's top 400.
Pat Perez
Pre-LIV ranking: 168
Current ranking: 572
One man who has enjoyed plenty of success alongside his 4Aces teammates since making the Saudi switch last summer is American star Pat Perez. Perez won the inaugural LIV Team Championship alongside Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed and Talor Gooch 12 months ago in Miami. This was not reflected in his world ranking though, having fallen 404 places during his time with the Saudi-backed series.
Sergio Garcia
Pre-LIV ranking: 54
Current ranking: 375
A Masters champion, Sergio Garcia is somebody who has felt the effects of LIV's lack of ranking recognition more than most having tumbled 321 places since making the mega-money move in 2022. This was seen earlier this summer when Garcia was forced to miss his first Open Championship since 1997 due to his fall in the ranking system. He attempted to earn a spot via Open qualifying at West Lancs but failed in his quest to make it to Royal Liverpool.
Sergio Garcia failed to qualify for The Open (PA)Paul Casey
Pre-LIV ranking: 27
Current ranking: 323
Another European star who followed in the footsteps of Garcia and Co. is Paul Casey. The Englishman had been playing some of his career-best golf in the year leading up to his LIV move and had previously sat as high as third in the world rankings. His spot in the top five will feel a world away now though, having fallen 296 places to sit outside the top 300.
Ian Poulter
Pre-LIV ranking: 89
Current ranking: 299
Following the trend and next on the list is Ian Poulter. Another man who knows what it is like to break into the top five in the world of golf, Poulter became one of the big names to join the LIV Golf setup ahead of its inaugural event back in June 2022. Whilst becoming one of LIV's most recognisable faces, his world ranking has taken a huge hit, having lost 210 places on the list with a move outside the top 300 now on the horizon.
Ian Poulter became one of LIV Golf's biggest signings (Getty Images)Bryson DeChambeau
Pre-LIV ranking: 29
Current ranking: 299
After becoming a U.S. Open champion in 2020, DeChambeau looked bound for stardom on the PGA Tour and would have fancied his chances at becoming the world's No. 1 golfer at some point in his pro career. This target has been scuppered though after deciding to join LIV Golf last summer. In total the former world No. 4 has fallen 103 places since making his Saudi move and had sat as low as 214th before a top-five finish at this year's PGA Championship.
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