Rory McIlroy “100%” believes that LIV Golf should be get World Ranking points but only if they’re willing to make the necessary changes.
LIV Golf applied for recognition on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) in July while all 48 players who competed at LIV Golf’s event outside Chicago earlier this month sent a joint letter to chairman Peter Dawson, urging him to award ranking points to competitors, while the application for world ranking status remains under review.
The application process is generally a one-to-two-year process, where applications are denied routinely, without prejudice, and then resubmitted with changes to applications as outlined by the OWGR. None of the criteria for submission is outlined on its website nor is anything regarding its process provided to the public.
“If they meet the criteria they get world ranking points,” said McIlroy. “I don’t see any reason why they shouldn’t, as long as they meet the criteria that is set out.
“The one thing that has been frustrating from the start of this is that they don’t want to play by the rules that have been in place for so long. It can’t be one set of rules for a certain amount of people and then a certain set of rules for everyone else – everyone has to abide by the same rules here.
“If they’re willing to abide by the rules then 100 per cent they should get world ranking points, but the way everything is right now and the way their tour is set up, I just think it makes it very difficult for them to make that argument.”
According to the letter that was sent by the players, every week that passes without the inclusion of LIV Golf athletes “undermines the historical value” of the World Ranking.
Without any world World Ranking points for LIV Golf events the likes of Dustin Johnson and Cameron Smith are sliding down the Ranking despite winning LIV tournaments against strong fields in recent months.
Just last week Patrick Reed fell outside of the top 50 for the first time in nearly nine years, all but ending his chances of playing in next year’s Major Championships, bar The Masters, unless he produces the goods in an OWGR sanctioned event.
