After striking a “strategic relationship” with the obscure Middle East and North Africa Tour, the unorthodox LIV series believes it has found a method for players to obtain legitimate global golf ranking points. How OWGR officials will respond to LIV’s attempt to use such a loophole to safeguard the position of its players remains to be seen.
The failure of LIV members, notably Open champion Cameron Smith, to gain OWGR status has been a contentious topic and a source of friction for the breakaway tour. Players sent an open letter to Peter Dawson, head of the OWGR, requesting that points be added promptly and retroactively. LIV’s formal application for OWGR status was submitted in July and is still under review.
Now, the Saudi Arabian-backed circuit has taken a surprising strategy before this week’s sixth round in Bangkok. The MENA Tour today announced a strategic collaboration that would result in LIV Golf Invitational events becoming part of and sanctioned by the MENA Tour, a Dubai-based golf tour recognized by the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) from 2016.
The alliance will strengthen the MENA Tour’s growth programs and immediately qualify LIV Golf for OWGR points, beginning with this week’s LIV Golf Thailand tournament at Stonehill.
“The final field for LIV Golf Thailand, the opening event of the 2022/23 MENA Tour season, will be submitted to OWGR by the MENA Tour before the start of play on Friday when the final field rating and winners’ points are likely to be confirmed. The arrangement has resulted in all LIV Golf players joining the MENA Tour.”
Time will tell if this assurance on ranking points is accurate. Even though discretion may be exercised, LIV does not match a number of the criteria specified in the OWGR standards, such as average field size and compliance with guidelines for at least one year. Some golfers are skeptical that the sport can simply replace Mena. Typically, the Mena Tour is a stepping stone for golfers to compete in more lucrative venues.
Currently, Smith, Dustin Johnson, and Phil Mickelson are members.
Atul Khosla, president and chief operating officer of LIV Golf, stated, “We are taking this mutually advantageous action to help the game at the developmental level and because of the importance and fairness of LIV golfers qualifying for OWGR points.”
The OWGR board of delegates from the four major tournaments as well as the PGA and DP World Tours. These trips stand in stark contrast to the LIV model.
