Bryson DeChambeau bites back at OWGR as LIV Golf's world ranking wait goes on

05 December 2023 , 18:31

481     0

Bryson DeChambeau hit back at OWGR (Image: Getty Images)

Bryson DeChambeau has accused the Official World Golf Rankings of having an 'agenda' against LIV Golf, with the Saudi-backed series still yet to acquire world ranking points.

Amid its rapid rise, arguably the biggest kink in the LIV Golf armour is its lack of OWGR recognition, with its 54-hole, no cut events continuing to go ahead without ranking points on offer. This has seen the majority of its playing members tumble down the rankings since signing on the dotted line with Greg Norman and co.

One man who has felt effects more than most is former world No. 4 DeChambeau, who now finds himself outside the world's top 150 players for the first time in over seven years.

READ MORE: Patrick Cantlay warned Team USA 'will find someone else' at Ryder Cup over pay demand

LIV's latest ranking rejection came in October, and the former U.S. Open champion believes those in charge are attempting to usher the Saudi-backed series away from the top of professional golf. "I know their agenda," DeChambeau told The Rick Shiels Golf Show.

Bubba Watson shares details of horror knee injury ahead of LIV Golf debut

"We know their whole playbook, we see exactly what they’re trying to do. They’re trying to hold us out long enough to where we’re irrelevant. 'Oh we’ll give you points now, we’re gonna play nice in the sandbox'. But then we’re all irrelevant, we don’t have enough points to even fill a field."

Bryson DeChambeau has tumbled down the world rankings since joining LIV Golf (Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

DeChambeau did however insist he had no bitterness towards the OWGR, and appeared content with relying on golf's four major championships to improve his place in the rankings. "This last half of the season, yes, I feel like I’ve played way better golf.

"And that’s because the last three Majors I made the cut and played somewhat decent in them, 4th at the PGA, British Open I didn’t do very well, the US Open I did ok. That’s what’s really holding me at [152]. If I didn’t have those this year, I’d be 500-and-something, probably.

"And you know what, it’s OK, I don’t hold myself to that level. I’m not bitter, I don’t care. What I do care about is the people that aren’t being ranked right that don’t have a chance to be in the majors." DeChambeau went on to highlight former top-20 golfer Joaquin Niemann as one of those who he believes should be at the four flagship events, but is not thanks to his fall in the rankings.

Luckily for Niemann the Chilean went on the land a spot in at least one of next year's majors, after earning an Open Championship place by winning last weekend's Australian Open. Arguably the biggest omission from the 2024 majors though is LIV's 2023 champion Talor Gooch.

Gooch won three times on the breakaway circuit last season on the way to being crowned individual champion, but in the meantime finds himself 288th in the world rankings. This proved to be another key problem for DeChambeau who went on the claim that 'it was not right' for LIV's No. 1 player to not be involved in golf's flagship events.

Earlier this year, the American called on those in charge of the sport's four majors to offer some sort of exemption categor y for the breakaway league, calling on the circuit's top-12 players to receive an exemption. As things stands though, those in charge of both the Masters and Open are set to not make any changes to their qualification process heading into 2024.

Joshua Lees