Greg Norman was right, the World Golf Rankings mean nothing
Midway through 2025, my question can be answered: golf's world rankings system is an abject absurdity. Sure, hitching onto LIV Golf's travelling circus has done nada for the cultivation and maintenance of the technical skills and temperament required to compete at the highest level, for either Rahm or Smith, but that's a different argument.
The crux of the issue is that LIV events are excluded from the OWGR. That's an unacceptable reality that should rightly cause offence to all professional players– it isn't just the LIV players this freezer treatment directly affects.
LIV Golf management this week made a fresh application to the powers who control the OWGR for LIV events to be included in the calculation of world golf rankings. The OWGR meets annually at the British Open. LIV's previous application to OWGR was formally withdrawn last year.
There's an indivisible absurdity here. Players began defecting to LIV three years ago. There's been a series of LIV tournaments played and won. Hardly anyone truly pays attention, but regardless, it's wrong that those tournaments, and their entrants' results, are ignored for the purpose of measuring the performance of the thousands of players on the OWGR rankings list. That's not right.
There's at least two fundamental problems with the intransigence of those in charge of the OWGR (including PGA Tour and European Tour representatives), regarding LIV players and their achievements in LIV tournaments.
Three years ago, the exclusion could be explained on the basis that assessments needed to be made as to what LIV is. Now the exclusion is churlish.
LIV events are contrived, with their 54-hole, no cut, limited-field formats and confected atmosphere. It's a closed shop in terms of the players who compete. But by equal measure, results achieved in LIV tournaments must count for something.
For players currently ranked inside the top 10 or top 50 of the OWGR, that ranking no longer means what it says because players like Rahm have their regular-season results excluded from all consideration. The best aren't the best any more.
The last open door for LIV players outside the top 50 is via open qualifying events for the US Open and The Open championships.
In the future, it means major championships will exclude players who should rightfully be there. What then happens, the major tournaments will have their importance eroded. The passage for LIV players to play in The Open wasn't non-existent, but the path was so narrow it may as well be.
It's a matter of high farce that LIV-aligned players can't earn world golf rankings points.
That's not to say that a 54-hole LIV closed-shop event should be ranked on par with a PGA Tour event that has a field four times as deep. LIV is anything but cutthroat. It's not the best of anything.
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Yet, the 54-hole Big Easy Tour – a development tour in South Africa, composed largely of golfing unknowns – is recognised for OWGR purposes. Examined through the same prism, it's inexplicable that the LIV Tour isn't.
That contrived anomaly must be rectified; otherwise, professional golf and its major tournaments will continue to suffer credibility damage. By the status quo, Rahm might well be ranked outside the world's top 300 next year. Reckon that's accurate?
The problem is that the highest-ranking officials from the PGA Tour and DP World Tour sit among those who decide which tournaments and tours are recognised for rankings purposes. Fair and reasonable? Or exclusionary and anti-competitive?

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The Advertiser
4 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Harrington completes prized Open and Senior double
Padraig Harrington was so focused on his game that he didn't notice a leaderboard or see Rory McIlroy walking in the gallery at the Senior British Open. He closed with a three-under 67 to win his second senior major of the year. Staked to a two-shot lead, Harrington made an eagle on the first hole on the Old Course at Sunningdale and no one got closer than two shots the rest of the way as he became the fifth player with a Senior British Open and a British Open title. He won by three shots over Thomas Bjorn (67) and Justin Leonard (68). Australia's Scott Hend, who moved up the leaderboard with a 64 on Saturday, was fourth after carding a final-round 65 to finish six shots off the lead. Compatriot Cameron Percy also shot a 65 to finish seven shots adrift. Harrington said: "I'm thrilled to have won but very satisfied that I've won a Senior Open with my two Opens. The fact that only five people have ever done it is quite special. I'm quite proud that I've managed to survive this long in the game." He joined Darren Clarke, Tom Watson, Gary Player and Bob Charles as players to have won the British Open and the senior version. McIlroy walked around for a bit on the London-area course, though it wasn't much of a show. Harrington seized control late in the third round and never gave anyone much of a chance. Bjorn made a late charge to get within two shots, but that ended with a bogey on the 16th. "The only time I saw a leaderboard was on 18," said Harrington, who said he asked his caddie for an update on the 17th hole. "Was fully focused on what I was doing." The Irishman was surprised to hear McIlroy, who is building a home in London, was at Sunningdale for the final round. "I didn't see him out there. Was he out there?" Harrington said. "I had the head down all day. I never saw anybody. I had no idea." Harrington now has 11 titles on the PGA Tour Champions, and he has won multiple times each of the last four seasons. He won the US Senior Open last month at The Broadmoor. And he nearly won the Senior PGA Championship at Congressional until a late two-shot swing gave the title to Angel Cabrera. Greg Chalmers, who started the day five shots off the lead, made a 69 to finish seven off, level with fellow Australian Steve Allan. Richard Green's final round of 66 left him while nine behind Harrington, while Michael Wright was 11 shots in arrears. Mark Hensby's final round of 72 meant he was 13 shots off the lead Padraig Harrington was so focused on his game that he didn't notice a leaderboard or see Rory McIlroy walking in the gallery at the Senior British Open. He closed with a three-under 67 to win his second senior major of the year. Staked to a two-shot lead, Harrington made an eagle on the first hole on the Old Course at Sunningdale and no one got closer than two shots the rest of the way as he became the fifth player with a Senior British Open and a British Open title. He won by three shots over Thomas Bjorn (67) and Justin Leonard (68). Australia's Scott Hend, who moved up the leaderboard with a 64 on Saturday, was fourth after carding a final-round 65 to finish six shots off the lead. Compatriot Cameron Percy also shot a 65 to finish seven shots adrift. Harrington said: "I'm thrilled to have won but very satisfied that I've won a Senior Open with my two Opens. The fact that only five people have ever done it is quite special. I'm quite proud that I've managed to survive this long in the game." He joined Darren Clarke, Tom Watson, Gary Player and Bob Charles as players to have won the British Open and the senior version. McIlroy walked around for a bit on the London-area course, though it wasn't much of a show. Harrington seized control late in the third round and never gave anyone much of a chance. Bjorn made a late charge to get within two shots, but that ended with a bogey on the 16th. "The only time I saw a leaderboard was on 18," said Harrington, who said he asked his caddie for an update on the 17th hole. "Was fully focused on what I was doing." The Irishman was surprised to hear McIlroy, who is building a home in London, was at Sunningdale for the final round. "I didn't see him out there. Was he out there?" Harrington said. "I had the head down all day. I never saw anybody. I had no idea." Harrington now has 11 titles on the PGA Tour Champions, and he has won multiple times each of the last four seasons. He won the US Senior Open last month at The Broadmoor. And he nearly won the Senior PGA Championship at Congressional until a late two-shot swing gave the title to Angel Cabrera. Greg Chalmers, who started the day five shots off the lead, made a 69 to finish seven off, level with fellow Australian Steve Allan. Richard Green's final round of 66 left him while nine behind Harrington, while Michael Wright was 11 shots in arrears. Mark Hensby's final round of 72 meant he was 13 shots off the lead Padraig Harrington was so focused on his game that he didn't notice a leaderboard or see Rory McIlroy walking in the gallery at the Senior British Open. He closed with a three-under 67 to win his second senior major of the year. Staked to a two-shot lead, Harrington made an eagle on the first hole on the Old Course at Sunningdale and no one got closer than two shots the rest of the way as he became the fifth player with a Senior British Open and a British Open title. He won by three shots over Thomas Bjorn (67) and Justin Leonard (68). Australia's Scott Hend, who moved up the leaderboard with a 64 on Saturday, was fourth after carding a final-round 65 to finish six shots off the lead. Compatriot Cameron Percy also shot a 65 to finish seven shots adrift. Harrington said: "I'm thrilled to have won but very satisfied that I've won a Senior Open with my two Opens. The fact that only five people have ever done it is quite special. I'm quite proud that I've managed to survive this long in the game." He joined Darren Clarke, Tom Watson, Gary Player and Bob Charles as players to have won the British Open and the senior version. McIlroy walked around for a bit on the London-area course, though it wasn't much of a show. Harrington seized control late in the third round and never gave anyone much of a chance. Bjorn made a late charge to get within two shots, but that ended with a bogey on the 16th. "The only time I saw a leaderboard was on 18," said Harrington, who said he asked his caddie for an update on the 17th hole. "Was fully focused on what I was doing." The Irishman was surprised to hear McIlroy, who is building a home in London, was at Sunningdale for the final round. "I didn't see him out there. Was he out there?" Harrington said. "I had the head down all day. I never saw anybody. I had no idea." Harrington now has 11 titles on the PGA Tour Champions, and he has won multiple times each of the last four seasons. He won the US Senior Open last month at The Broadmoor. And he nearly won the Senior PGA Championship at Congressional until a late two-shot swing gave the title to Angel Cabrera. Greg Chalmers, who started the day five shots off the lead, made a 69 to finish seven off, level with fellow Australian Steve Allan. Richard Green's final round of 66 left him while nine behind Harrington, while Michael Wright was 11 shots in arrears. Mark Hensby's final round of 72 meant he was 13 shots off the lead Padraig Harrington was so focused on his game that he didn't notice a leaderboard or see Rory McIlroy walking in the gallery at the Senior British Open. He closed with a three-under 67 to win his second senior major of the year. Staked to a two-shot lead, Harrington made an eagle on the first hole on the Old Course at Sunningdale and no one got closer than two shots the rest of the way as he became the fifth player with a Senior British Open and a British Open title. He won by three shots over Thomas Bjorn (67) and Justin Leonard (68). Australia's Scott Hend, who moved up the leaderboard with a 64 on Saturday, was fourth after carding a final-round 65 to finish six shots off the lead. Compatriot Cameron Percy also shot a 65 to finish seven shots adrift. Harrington said: "I'm thrilled to have won but very satisfied that I've won a Senior Open with my two Opens. The fact that only five people have ever done it is quite special. I'm quite proud that I've managed to survive this long in the game." He joined Darren Clarke, Tom Watson, Gary Player and Bob Charles as players to have won the British Open and the senior version. McIlroy walked around for a bit on the London-area course, though it wasn't much of a show. Harrington seized control late in the third round and never gave anyone much of a chance. Bjorn made a late charge to get within two shots, but that ended with a bogey on the 16th. "The only time I saw a leaderboard was on 18," said Harrington, who said he asked his caddie for an update on the 17th hole. "Was fully focused on what I was doing." The Irishman was surprised to hear McIlroy, who is building a home in London, was at Sunningdale for the final round. "I didn't see him out there. Was he out there?" Harrington said. "I had the head down all day. I never saw anybody. I had no idea." Harrington now has 11 titles on the PGA Tour Champions, and he has won multiple times each of the last four seasons. He won the US Senior Open last month at The Broadmoor. And he nearly won the Senior PGA Championship at Congressional until a late two-shot swing gave the title to Angel Cabrera. Greg Chalmers, who started the day five shots off the lead, made a 69 to finish seven off, level with fellow Australian Steve Allan. Richard Green's final round of 66 left him while nine behind Harrington, while Michael Wright was 11 shots in arrears. Mark Hensby's final round of 72 meant he was 13 shots off the lead


Perth Now
8 hours ago
- Perth Now
Kitayama holds on for second PGA Tour victory
Kurt Kitayama has finished a sizzling weekend with a final-round 65 to win the 3M Open, beating fellow American Sam Stevens by one stroke for his second PGA Tour victory. Kitayama, who shot a career-best and tournament-record-tying 60 on Saturday to enter the final round within one of the leaders, birdied six of the first eight holes to build a cushion on Sunday afternoon at the TPC Twin Cities. The 32-year-old took bogey on the par-3 17th hole for the third straight day, which shrunk his lead to one while playing in the second-to-last group. Stevens was one group ahead and failed to birdie the reachable par-5 18th. After hitting his approach on the closing hole into a greenside bunker, Kitayama safely blasted to 18 feet and easily two-putted for par, finishing at 23-under 261. US trio David Lipsky, Pierceson Coody and Jake Knapp tied for third along with England's Matt Wallace,, three strokes back. Kitayama, who previously won the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in 2023, got a 500-point boost in the FedEx Cup standings to move inside the top 70 and secure a spot in the playoffs. He was projected to jump from 110th to 53rd. The Californian, who tied for sixth at the 3M Open last year, has missed seven cuts this season. He tied for fifth twice, at the John Deere Classic and the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. Kitayama had his approach game in prime form. He hit his second shot on the par-4 14th from a fairway bunker within two feet of the hole for the last of his 20 birdies on the weekend. Stevens made five birdies on the back nine, continuing his strong season that includes three top-three finishes. He was second at the Farmers Insurance Open. The 29-year-old Texan is still seeking his first win, but this finish pushes him from 44th to 29th in the FedEx Cup with one event left in the regular season. Akshay Bhatia (75) and Thorbjorn Olesen (73) were the co-leaders going into Sunday, but the final pairing had a disappointing finish. Australia's Adam Scott had a final-round 72 to end T53 at 10 under.


Perth Now
10 hours ago
- Perth Now
Harrington completes prized Open and Senior double
Padraig Harrington was so focused on his game that he didn't notice a leaderboard or see Rory McIlroy walking in the gallery at the Senior British Open. He closed with a three-under 67 to win his second senior major of the year. Staked to a two-shot lead, Harrington made an eagle on the first hole on the Old Course at Sunningdale and no one got closer than two shots the rest of the way as he became the fifth player with a Senior British Open and a British Open title. He won by three shots over Thomas Bjorn (67) and Justin Leonard (68). Australia's Scott Hend, who moved up the leaderboard with a 64 on Saturday, was fourth after carding a final-round 65 to finish six shots off the lead. Compatriot Cameron Percy also shot a 65 to finish seven shots adrift. Harrington said: "I'm thrilled to have won but very satisfied that I've won a Senior Open with my two Opens. The fact that only five people have ever done it is quite special. I'm quite proud that I've managed to survive this long in the game." He joined Darren Clarke, Tom Watson, Gary Player and Bob Charles as players to have won the British Open and the senior version. McIlroy walked around for a bit on the London-area course, though it wasn't much of a show. Harrington seized control late in the third round and never gave anyone much of a chance. Bjorn made a late charge to get within two shots, but that ended with a bogey on the 16th. "The only time I saw a leaderboard was on 18," said Harrington, who said he asked his caddie for an update on the 17th hole. "Was fully focused on what I was doing." The Irishman was surprised to hear McIlroy, who is building a home in London, was at Sunningdale for the final round. "I didn't see him out there. Was he out there?" Harrington said. "I had the head down all day. I never saw anybody. I had no idea." Harrington now has 11 titles on the PGA Tour Champions, and he has won multiple times each of the last four seasons. He won the US Senior Open last month at The Broadmoor. And he nearly won the Senior PGA Championship at Congressional until a late two-shot swing gave the title to Angel Cabrera. Greg Chalmers, who started the day five shots off the lead, made a 69 to finish seven off, level with fellow Australian Steve Allan. Richard Green's final round of 66 left him while nine behind Harrington, while Michael Wright was 11 shots in arrears. Mark Hensby's final round of 72 meant he was 13 shots off the lead