The Official World Golf Ranking has been a major talking point in the professional game for the last two years as LIV Golf has fought for inclusion within the system. While the league with 54-hole and no-cut events still isn’t eligible for points, the OWGR announced two updates to the system on Thursday, and one of the amendments would impact a league such as LIV (as well as the PGA Tour).
Two months after the OWGR rejected LIV Golf’s application for points, the governing board announced a change that would include a new points distribution curve for fields of 80 players or less which would award a greater percentage of points to top finishers in those events. In addition, points will no longer be distributed to players finishing in the bottom 15 percent of events that do not have a cut. When it comes to match play events, players who lose their first-round match or lose all matches in a pool format will no longer earn points.
The update will have an impact on the PGA Tour’s eight signature events in 2024, where fields will range from roughly 70-80 players. The three player-hosted invitationals (Genesis Invitational, Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Memorial Tournament) will feature a 36-hole cut to the top 50 and ties and any player within 10 shots of the lead. The other five signature events – The Sentry, AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, RBC Heritage, Wells Fargo Championship and Travelers Championship – will not have a cut.
In short, top finishers in all eight events will earn more points, while the bottom 12 or so players in the five no-cut events (15 percent of 80) won’t earn points.
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The second update introduces a new multi-win benefit that provides a 60 percent bonus to players who win for a second time within a 52-week period, while a 70 percent bonus will be awarded to players who win three or more times.
“Based on extensive analysis following the changes implemented in August 2022, we recognized these two opportunities to further enhance the OWGR and to accurately evaluate performances of the world’s participating players on all eligible Tours,” said Official World Golf Ranking Chairman Peter Dawson via a release. “Adjustments to the Ranking are made after careful consideration, and we are confident that today’s updates will better position the OWGR for the future.”
The changes will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2024.