The Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) governing board has approved LIV Golf’s application to award world ranking points to its players from the 2026 season, marking a significant shift in the sport’s landscape.
LIV Golf, founded in 2022 by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, operates as a breakaway tour from the established PGA and DP World Tours. Initially featuring 54-hole tournaments, it will switch to 72 holes for the 2026 season. The tour attracted high-profile players such as Phil Mickelson, Ian Poulter and Dustin Johnson, but also created a rift with the PGA Tour, requiring players to resign their memberships.
An earlier application for world ranking points was rejected in October 2023, with then chairman Peter Dawson stating the board could not fairly measure LIV against other tours. Former CEO Greg Norman later advised that LIV would no longer seek approval. However, on the eve of its fifth season, the OWGR board reversed course.
In a statement, the OWGR said: “After conducting an exhaustive and collaborative process, and in an effort to reflect the changing landscape of the men’s professional game, the OWGR Board has made the decision to award world ranking points to LIV Golf events for the 2026 season.” Points will be allocated to the top 10 finishers (and ties) in individual stroke play events, with conditions attached.
The decision was unanimous but limited: only the top 10 players in each event will receive points. Currently, Tyrrell Hatton (22nd) and Bryson DeChambeau (33rd) are the only LIV players in the world top 50. The move follows earlier departures from LIV, including Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed seeking reintegration into the PGA Tour.
