LIV Golf Players' Future in Majors Takes Stunning OWGR Turn

Newsweek

29-04-2025

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
LIV Golf may be about to get the break it needs to solidify its league for the foreseeable future.
The OWGR (Official World Golf Ranking) and LIV Golf executives are in "serious discussions" about awarding points for their events, per a Sportico report.
The Saudi-backed league has fought for this move since its first season started in 2022.
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - APRIL 27: Matt Jones of Ripper GC reacts during day three of LIV Golf Mexico City at Club de Golf Chapultepec on April 27, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico.
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - APRIL 27: Matt Jones of Ripper GC reacts during day three of LIV Golf Mexico City at Club de Golf Chapultepec on April 27, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico.
Photo byHowever, the OWGR often stated that their format and field sizes were a big reason they did not give them points.
A few teams have inked contracts with big-time equipment brands, which has helped provide some of them a few points.
In March, Legion XIII, Jon Rahm's team, signed a deal with Callaway Golf. Then, in April, Joaquin Niemann's Torque GC team signed on with PING Golf.
Players can also win points through majors and European Tour events.
But none of that moved the needle enough for LIV players to qualify for majors. Due to that fact, the players in the Saudi-backed league have plummeted in the rankings.
Bryson DeChambeau ranks the highest right now at No. 12. However, he won the U.S. Open last year and finished well in most majors.
There are only three players inside the Top 50 right now, with Tyrrell Hatton and Patrick Reed joining DeChambeau. Rahm is ranked 73rd, with most ranking several hundred spots lower.
LIV Golf recently hired a new CEO, Scott O'Neal, who replaced Greg Norman. OWGR also received new leadership, with Trevor Immelman taking over the chair from Peter Dawson earlier this year.
Those changes may have led to the potential change of course.
O'Neil and Immelman were spotted chatting at Augusta National.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Open was the first major championship to add a LIV Golf exemption category. Shortly after, the R&A, which governs the Open Championship, also approved an exemption category for LIV players.
FS1 averaged 110,000 viewers for Sunday's final round of LIV Golf Mexico City, won by Joaquin Niemann.
Saturday coverage: 84,000 on FS1
Friday: 30,000 on FS2 pic.twitter.com/96H2tvv93g — Josh Carpenter (@JoshACarpenter) April 29, 2025
Last week, LIV Golf was in Mexico, and Niemann won for the fifth time, tying Brooks Koepka for the most in the league's short history. With that win, Niemann punched his ticket to Oakmont for the U.S. Open.
Everything seems to point to LIV Golf having a stronger presence in major championship fields.
These discussions to finally award OWGR Points to LIV may be coming at a strategic time since many of its top players are in the last year of their contracts. It may help sway some of those guys to stay on if they were to secure points.
It has been a big year for the Saudi-backed league, which also signed on with Fox Sports in January to broadcast the LIV Golf events.
However, the framework negotiations between PIF and the PGA Tour are still in progress, and it is unclear when or even if a deal will ever happen.
More Golf: Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry Crumble at Zurich Classic, Unlikely Heroes Emerge