LIV Golf player climbs back inside World Top 50 despite not getting points!
LIV Golf's Harold Varner unthinkably moves back inside the World Top 50 despite being shut out of picking up ranking points.
LIV Golf's Harold Varner has moved back up inside the world's top 50 this week, despite the Saudi-bankrolled circuit remaining shut out of receiving Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points.
If you are confused don't be, because this is the world ranking system after all.
Varner finished tied 28th in LIV Golf League's season opener at Mayakoba on Sunday.
That saw him take him a cheque for $158,000.
But it also saw him climb two rungs on the world ladder from 51st to 49th.
This was due to other players on Tour losing points such as Australian PGA Tour golfers Min Woo Lee and Lucas Herbert.
Varner is on Bubba Watson's new RangeGoats team for 2023.
Check out all the LIV Golf League Teams for this year.
Charles Howell scooped a giant $4.75 million after running away with the individual prize, and picking up top spot in team event as one quarter of Bryson DeChambeau's victorious Crushers side.
LIV Golf's Mito Pereira, who signed for them this season, also picked up two spots in the OWGR.
Pereira moves from 50th to 48th.
This will be a rarity for LIV Golfers though, as more often than not they will slip backwards every week all the while their tournaments are not eligible for ranking points.
LIV Golf pros will only be able to pick up OWGR points when they compete in the four majors this season, as well as any DP World Tour or Asian Tour events.
There is currently an ongoing court hearing as to whether LIV Golf pros will be able to remain competing on the DP World Tour this season.
Both players were already in the top 50 at the end of 2022, meaning they are already qualified for The Masters this April.
Any other players currently not eligible will qualify should they find themselves in the World's Top 50 before The Masters.
Dustin Johnson remains outside the Top 50 in 54th spot.
Elsewhere in the OWGR, Phil Mickelson moves to a career-low 318th, while Brooks Koepka drops five places to 90th.