14 April 2023 , 12:02
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LIV golfer Jediah Morgan has become the latest star from the breakaway circuit to take aim at the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR), labelling the system 'broken' and 'screwed-up'.
LIV heads to Australia for the first time next week, when the 54-hole circuit tees it up at The Grange in Adelaide. One man who is looking forward to the trip more than most is resident Aussie Morgan.
After spending the majority of his career competing on the PGA Tour of Australasia, the 23-year-old from Brisbane was offered the chance to play his golf with the mega-money series by fellow Aussie and CEO Greg Norman in its maiden campaign.
The rising star was then invited back for season two, and joined his fellow countrymen Marc Leishman, Matt Jones and Open champion Cam Smith as part of Ripper GC. Despite its critics, LIV has enjoyed some early success having lured in the likes of Smith, Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson.
At times it has proven ugly though, with the breakaway league at war with the sport's leading circuit, the PGA Tour. Arguably the biggest kink in LIV's armour has been its failure to acquire recognition from the OWGR, meaning players are competing on the Saudi-funded tour without the opportunity to earn ranking points. That could cost them place at the majors if they slip too far down the order.
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Greg Norman has voiced his concerns about OWGR in the past (NurPhoto via Getty Images)This has been slammed by many including poster boy Mickelson and CEO Norman. And the latest to take aim is Morgan. Speaking ahead of LIV Adelaide next week, he said per News.com.au: "If they don’t change that [the ranking decision] in the future, and LIV does everything right the world ranking system’s broken."
“It’s actually already broken. It’s already pretty screwed up.” In a bid to earn ranking points last October LIV formed a 'strategic alliance' with the lesser-known MENA Tour - a circuit recognised by the OWGR.
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Jediah Morgan competes alongside Cam Smith, Marc Leishman and Matt Jones (Mike Stobe/LIV Golf/AP/REX/Shutterstock)The loophole plan failed though, as world-ranking bosses failed to approve LIV's events in Bangkok and Jeddah despite being co-sanctioned with the MENA Tour. In a statement, OWGR said: "A review of the changes to the MENA Tour is now underway by the OWGR.
"Notice of these changes given by the MENA Tour is insufficient to allow OWGR to conduct the customary necessary review ahead of the LIV Golf Invitational Bangkok (Oct. 7-9) and LIV Golf Invitational Jeddah (Oct. 14-16)." The review into LIV's application is still ongoing, and can take up to two years to be completed.