Players participating in the LIV Golf Invitational Bangkok (October 7-9) and LIV Golf Invitational Jeddah (October 14-16) will continue to not receive Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points; LIV Golf on Wednesday announced an alliance with the MENA Tour to seek world ranking status
Last update: 06/10/22 13:33
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World number 23 Dustin Johnson thinks it’s only fair that LIV Tour players can earn official world ranking points
World number 23 Dustin Johnson thinks it’s only fair that LIV Tour players can earn official world ranking points
The Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) has confirmed that LIV Golf events this season will not offer world ranking points, despite the Saudi-backed Tour’s new partnership with the MENA Tour.
The MENA Tour – a Dubai-based golf tour that has been offering world ranking points since 2016 – announced on Wednesday a “strategic alliance” with LIV Golf that would see all of its events added to their calendar and all members of the tour supported by the Saudi Arabia would join their tour.
LIV Golf believes the move could make their event eligible to receive official World Ranking points, potentially as soon as the event begins in Thailand on Friday, all OWGRs have issued a statement to confirm this would not be the case.
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World number 134 Phil Mickelson is pleased to have the full support of LIV Golf in his pursuit to earn golf world ranking points
In a statement, the OWGR said: “The Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) received a communication from the MENA Tour on October 5, 2022 at 1:05 p.m. BST. The communication details significant changes to the MENA membership structure. Tour as well as a preview of the first series of tournaments of the 2022/23 MENA Tour season.
“OWGR notes that the first two tournaments of this series appeared to be the same as the LIV Golf Invitational Series tournaments in Bangkok and Jeddah. The MENA Tour communication included a starting data file for the Bangkok tournament, confirming that it was the case.
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Jamie Weir explains potential LIV Golf loophole involving the MENA Tour and whether it will speed up their quest for world ranking points
“A review of the changes to the MENA Tour is currently underway by the OWGR. The notice of these changes given by the MENA Tour is insufficient to allow the OWGR to conduct the usual necessary review prior to the LIV Golf Invitational. Bangkok (October 7-9) and LIV Golf Invitational Jeddah (October 14-16).
“Only after the review is complete will a decision be made on the allocation of points to new MENA Tour ‘Limited Scope Tournaments’, defined by the MENA Tour in its rules as “any tournament approved by the MENA Tour, which includes a field of players of less than 80 players”.
“Regular official MENA Tour events held over 54 or 72 holes with a cut after 36 holes, and its Tour Championship, usually held over 54 holes without a cut, remain eligible for inclusion in the OWGR.”
More soon…