Latest news with #Immelman
The Star
03-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
New OWGR chairman Immelman says LIV has not reapplied for points
LIV Golf has not reapplied for world ranking points, chairman of the Official World Golf Ranking, Trevor Immelman says. Immelman, who took over as OWGR chairman three weeks ago, said he has spoken with LIV chief executive officer Scott O'Neil on the phone and met with him for a casual conversation during the Masters, according to the Associated Press.
Newsweek
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
OWGR Refutes Reports of LIV Golf Inching Closer to Earning Points
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. A few days ago, a rumor spread through the golf world that LIV Golf was in advanced talks with the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) to have its events earn ranking points. The institution quickly came out to say, "No, we're not." OWGR Chairman, Masters winner Trevor Immelman, gave an interview to the Associated Press in which he assured that as far as LIV Golf and the OWGR are concerned, the current situation is the same as it has been for the past year. "They have not put any application in. Whether that happens or not, I guess time will tell," Immelman said. "The ball is in their court." In October 2023, the OWGR rejected LIV Golf's application to be included in the world ranking system. The denial decision was based on fundamental league issues that conflicted with the current ranking points distribution system. Trevor Immelman of South Africa looks on from the third hole during the Par Three Contest prior to the 2024 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 10, 2024 in Augusta, Georgia. Trevor Immelman of South Africa looks on from the third hole during the Par Three Contest prior to the 2024 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 10, 2024 in Augusta, months later, in May 2024, LIV Golf, then led by Greg Norman, withdrew its application. In a letter to his players, Norman alluded to the OWGR's unwillingness to work with the Saudi-backed league. Since then, the situation has changed little or not at all. In fact, Immelman used the October 2023 rejection letter as a reference to illustrate the current state of affairs. "I would say that [the situation described in the letter from October 2023] is still case," he said. "But until a new application is put in, there's nothing really we can do about it. If the LIV Golf League is wanting to be part of the OWGR, then they need to go ahead and put another application in. That's really where we are." The OWGR's denial of points in October 2023 alluded to several reasons, but was explicitly in favor of resolving all but one of them, that of the qualification and relegation process, or more specifically, the lack thereof. The vast majority of LIV Golf players do not go through a qualifying process, but are recruited directly by the teams. Only six players have gone through some qualifying process in the entire league's history, Scott Vincent and Anndy Ogletree after winning the Asian Tour International League in 2023 and 2024 respectively, and Jinichiro Kozuma, Kieran Vincent, Kalle Samooja and Chieh-Po Li through the two Promotion Events that have been held. OWGR chairman Trevor Immelman on report of being in "serious discussions" with LIV about ranking points (via @dougferguson405): "An interesting choice of worlds... We're in the same position we have been without any application from their side." — Underdog Golf (@UnderdogGolf) May 1, 2025 But even these qualification systems have changed, and not for the better in terms of bringing more players into the league. In 2024, two LIV Golf players finished 1-2 in the International Series, Joaquin Niemann and Peter Uihlein, without the benefit of a contract going to the third-place finisher. As for the Promotional Events, it went from awarding three contracts for 2024 to only one for 2025. The latter, Chieh-Po Li, did not even receive a team contract, but ended up playing in the league as a wild card. The league's relegation process is also almost non-existent. In 2024, only five of the 54 active LIV Golf players were relegated (not counting reserve players nor wild cards). Two of them, Branden Grace and Bubba Watson, were re-signed by their respective teams without any form of qualification. The existence of merit-based systems has historically been one of the pillars of competitive golf (not only professional). The influence of this concept ranges from cuts in most tournaments (including major championships) to loss of membership on the various tours if certain requirements are not met. More Golf: How to Watch The CJ Cup Byron Nelson: Live Stream PGA TOUR Golf, TV Channel
The Hindu
02-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
OWGR chairman Immelman says LIV has not reapplied for world ranking points
LIV Golf getting world ranking points would start with the Saudi-funded league applying to the Official World Golf Ranking, and chairman Trevor Immelman said on Thursday that first step has not happened. Immelman, who took over as OWGR chair three weeks ago, said he has spoken with LIV CEO Scott O'Neil on the phone and met with him for a casual conversation during the Masters. Sportico reported earlier this week that LIV Golf and the OWGR were in 'serious discussions,' which Immelman found to be 'an interesting choice of words.' 'They have not put any application in. Whether that happens or not, I guess time will tell,' Immelman said in a telephone interview. 'I have enjoyed getting to know Scott O'Neil over the last few months,' he said. 'We've spoken on the phone a couple of times. We met in person at the Masters, just really introduction stuff. We're in the same position we have been without any application from their side. READ | Jon Rahm out to break 2025 win drought ahead of US PGA Championship 'The ball is in their court.' The OWGR denied LIV's original application in October 2023, saying it could not fairly measure the league with some two dozen other tours around the world because of what amounted to a closed shop and the possibility of competition being compromised by having team scores count simultaneously with individual results. LIV withdrew its application in May 2024. LIV now has 54 players — 13 four-man teams and two wild cards — a roster that stays the same same (except alternates for injury) all season. It started a 'promotions' event that offered three spots at the end of 2023, but that was reduced to one spot last year. The leader of the Asian Tour's International Series also gets a spot in LIV provided he's not already a member. O'Neil replaced Greg Norman as the CEO of LIV Golf this year. The four majors use the world ranking to help determine its fields, and the heads of those organisations voted to deny LIV's application. The U.S. Open and British Open this year created a category to provide a path for at least one LIV Golf player this year. Joaquin Niemann earned that spot in the U.S. Open. The Masters has said it can get the field it needs through use of its special invitations. Immelman did not say whether he had any inclination from his meetings with O'Neal that another application was in the works. 'Our process is not to go chasing tours,' Immelman said. 'We have an open door policy. Whoever wants to apply is more than welcome. There isn't any pressure from our side. We allow these tours to figure out what their best strategy is.' But he said the rejection letter former OWGR Chairman Peter Dawson sent to LIV in October 2023 was 'quite clear' with the position the board had found at the time. 'I would say that is still case,' Immelman said. 'But until a new application is put in, there's nothing really we can do about it. If the LIV Golf League is wanting to be part of the OWGR, then they need to go ahead and put another application in. That's really where we are.' Immelman said he has enjoyed getting to know O'Neil, whom he described as a 'very smart guy who understands the business world in sport.' 'He'll be the first to tell you he's still learning the golf landscape,' Immelman said. 'I'm sure he'll do that quite fast.'
Mint
02-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
World ranking chair Trevor Immelman says LIV has not reapplied and the ball is in their court
New York, May 2 (AP) LIV Golf getting world ranking points would start with the Saudi-funded league applying to the Official World Golf Ranking, and chairman Trevor Immelman said Thursday that first step has not happened. Immelman, who took over as OWGR chair three weeks ago, said he has spoken with LIV CEO Scott O'Neil on the phone and met with him for a casual conversation during the Masters. Sportico reported earlier this week that LIV Golf and the OWGR were in 'serious discussions," which Immelman found to be 'an interesting choice of words.' 'They have not put any application in. Whether that happens or not, I guess time will tell,' Immelman said in a telephone interview. 'I have enjoyed getting to know Scott O'Neil over the last few months,' he said. "We've spoken on the phone a couple of times. We met in person at the Masters, just really introduction stuff. We're in the same position we have been without any application from their side. 'The ball is in their court.' The OWGR denied LIV's original application in October 2023, saying it could not fairly measure the league with some two dozen other tours around the world because of what amounted to a closed shop and the possibility of competition being compromised by having team scores count simultaneously with individual results. LIV withdrew its application in May 2024. LIV now has 54 players — 13 four-man teams and two wild cards — a roster that stays the same same (except alternates for injury) all season. It started a 'promotions' event that offered three spots at the end of 2023, but that was reduced to one spot last year. The leader of the Asian Tour's International Series also gets a spot in LIV provided he's not already a member. O'Neil replaced Greg Norman as the CEO of LIV Golf this year. The four majors use the world ranking to help determine its fields, and the heads of those organizations voted to deny LIV's application. The U.S. Open and British Open this year created a category to provide a path for at least one LIV Golf player this year. Joaquin Niemann earned that spot in the U.S. Open. The Masters has said it can get the field it needs through use of its special invitations. Immelman did not say whether he had any inclination from his meetings with O'Neal that another application was in the works. 'Our process is not to go chasing tours,' Immelman said. 'We have an open door policy. Whoever wants to apply is more than welcome. There isn't any pressure from our side. We allow these tours to figure out what their best strategy is.' But he said the rejection letter former OWGR Chairman Peter Dawson sent to LIV in October 2023 was 'quite clear' with the position the board had found at the time. 'I would say that is still case,' Immelman said. 'But until a new application is put in, there's nothing really we can do about it. If the LIV Golf League is wanting to be part of the OWGR, then they need to go ahead and put another application in. That's really where we are." Immelman said he has enjoyed getting to know O'Neil, whom he described as a 'very smart guy who understands the business world in sport.' 'He'll be the first to tell you he's still learning the golf landscape,' Immelman said. 'I'm sure he'll do that quite fast.' (AP) AM AM AM First Published: 2 May 2025, 09:27 AM IST
USA Today
02-05-2025
- Business
- USA Today
'Ball is in their court': Trevor Immelman says LIV Golf hasn't reapplied for OWGR points, per report
'Ball is in their court': Trevor Immelman says LIV Golf hasn't reapplied for OWGR points, per report On Tuesday, Sportico reported LIV officials were in serious discussions with Official World Golf Ranking executives, specifically Trevor Immelman, about awarding ranking points for LIV Golf events. Come Thursday, Immelman responded. Speaking with Doug Ferguson of the Associated Press in a phone interview, Immelman said LIV has not submitted an application to receive points. And until that happens, the OWGR won't do much. "Whether that happens or not, I guess time will tell,' Immelman told the AP. 'I have enjoyed getting to know (LIV Golf CEO) Scott O'Neil over the last few months. We've spoken on the phone a couple of times. We met in person at the Masters, just really introduction stuff. We're in the same position we have been without any application from their side. 'The ball is in their court.' LIV Golf first tried to get OWGR points three years ago LIV Golf initially submitted an application for OWGR points in June 2022 but withdrew that bid last March. The OWGR rejected the initial bid in October 2023, citing the league – which features 54 players playing 54-hole, shotgun start, no-cut events – wasn't able to be compared to the other 24 tours under its world ranking wing. There were also concerns with qualifying and relegation methods. LIV Golf introduced a promotions event in 2023, which allowed three golfers to play their way into the league. Last year, only one person got in through the promotions event. Players who finish Nos. 49 and below in the season-long standings are relegated, but numerous players, including Bubba Watson and Branden Grace, who finished below that threshold in 2024 returned to their respective teams in 2025. Immelman told the AP he has enjoyed getting to know O'Neil, who took over for Greg Norman as CEO this offseason, and has been pivotal in securing a new media rights deal with Fox, revamping the league's schedule and helping teams sign sponsors for equipment, apparel and more. Immelman did say the rejection letter the OWGR board sent in October 2023 was quite clear with its position at the time. 'I would say that is still case,' Immelman said. 'But until a new application is put in, there's nothing really we can do about it. If the LIV Golf League is wanting to be part of the OWGR, then they need to go ahead and put another application in. That's really where we are."
