Jon Rahm sounds off on lack of OWGR points for LIV Golf players: "I think it's wrong..."
Jon Rahm is still not happy that LIV Golf events remain shut out of receiving valuable Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points heading into 2025.
Jon Rahm is still not happy that LIV Golf League events remain shut out of receiving valuable Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points heading into 2025.
LIV Golf is now about to enter its fourth season but those on the board at the OWGR have still decided to turn their backs on the Saudi-backed circuit.
Members of the OWGR board consider LIV Golf cannot be awarded ranking points since their events are limited fields with a shotgun start and over 54 holes.
The only opportunity LIV Golf players have of receiving OWGR points are via DP World Tour, Asian Tour or via the four majors.
The big issue for a lot of LIV players right now is that many of them are ineligible to even compete in the majors due to their dwindling world ranking positions.
Players such as Sergio Garcia are now down in 442nd position, while former World No.1 Dustin Johnson is an unthinkable 515th.
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Rahm, 30, has been a vocal critic of the OWGR's controversial decision even before he inked a reported $600m multi-year deal to join LIV Golf last season.
And he was still not holding back in front of the media ahead of his Dubai Desert Classic debut at Emirates GC as the two-time major champion continued to sound off on the OWGR on Tuesday.
Rahm said:
"I think I've expressed my opinions on the world ranking system before I joined LIV, but they told us -- they told me early on, I think even before I signed in the early conversations, that they were not going to pursue those discussions to the same level because they knew where it was directed.
"I think at this point to not give LIV world ranking points and the credibility it deserves, I think is wrong.
"Listen, I understand we've all made a decision and it's not as easy as it sounds but to say that LIV players don't deserve some spots in major championships I think is wrong and I hope that evolves into what it should be, right.
"I think Joaquin Niemann has done a good enough job for him to earn his way into major championships without invites. Talor Gooch played good enough a few years ago to earn his way into majors without invites.
"There should be a way for us to qualify, and the world ranking points, need to figure something out because it's not fair for anybody in that sense."
Rahm rocked up in Dubai this week sporting new Greyson apparel.
Related:
Golf Today's Eamon Lynch considers LIV Golf players were lied to from the outset on the subject of receiving OWGR points by those above such as departing CEO Greg Norman.
"They lied to these guys, it’s an outright lie because it wasn’t within their gift to give OWGR points, perhaps Greg Norman thought he could bully the world ranking system into giving them points…"
Watched what Lynch had to say here:
#LIES: @eamonlynch says LIV golfers were lied too: “They lied to these guys, it’s an outright lie because it wasn’t within their gift to give OGWR points, perhaps Greg Norman thought he could bully the world ranking system into giving them points…”pic.twitter.com/4SefPHREuj
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) January 13, 2025
Rahm revealed in an interview with bunkered this week, he has still been given no update by the DP World Tour on when his appeal against sanctions will be heard, despite having played his first full season on the LIV Golf League.
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