LIV Golf: Cameron Smith Challenges Golf’s World Rankings as ‘Almost Obsolete’
When it comes to golf’s global pecking order, the landscape is undergoing a seismic shift, and former Open champion Cameron Smith is at the forefront of this transformation. Since joining the LIV Golf tour in August 2022, just a month after clinching his first major victory at The Open, Smith has been vocal about his criticism of the traditional world golf rankings.
Why the uproar, you ask? Well, it all boils down to the refusal of these rankings to acknowledge tournaments on the LIV tour. Smith, along with a chorus of fellow LIV players, is baffled by the Official World Golf Rankings’ (OWGR) decision to continue ignoring events on the Saudi Arabia-funded circuit.
Among the notable voices in this outcry are double major champion Dustin Johnson, former Masters winner Patrick Reed, and the enigmatic Bryson DeChambeau, who clinched the 2020 US Open. They all believe that the OWGR is becoming, in Smith’s words, “almost obsolete.”
“We’ve got some guys out here who are playing some of the best golf in the world, and they’re outside the top 100, 200 in the world. It’s pretty ridiculous,” Smith, 30, opined before the LIV’s final regular-season event, teeing off in Jeddah.
Former world number one Johnson, who boasts victories in the 2016 US Open and 2020 Masters, shares Smith’s sentiment. He argues that the rankings are no longer fit for purpose, given their exclusion of 48 top-tier players. As Johnson aptly puts it, “The rankings are skewed.”
The implications of this issue are substantial. Majors like The Open, US Open, and the Masters rely on world rankings to determine their fields. LIV players who lack exemptions based on prior major successes will face increased difficulty in earning a spot at these prestigious tournaments.
The OWGR chairman, Peter Dawson, conveyed the rejection of LIV’s application for ranking status to LIV’s leadership. Their primary concern revolves around the limited access for golfers to join the 48-player circuit. Dawson emphasized that their decision was more “technical” than “political.”
This decision hits close to home for American Patrick Reed, who now has only his Masters exemption from his 2018 Augusta triumph for major eligibility. He expresses his disappointment, highlighting that until the world ranking system reflects the top players in the world, it remains a “broken system.” In his eyes, playing on a different tour shouldn’t carry such weight.
Bryson DeChambeau has an alternative suggestion for resolving this issue. He proposes that the majors explore different ways to accommodate LIV’s leading players, instead of relying solely on world rankings. DeChambeau’s idea of using the top 12 on the money list or points list at the end of the year as a criterion for major championships sounds intriguing.
LIV Golf, with its 14-tournament schedule funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, is shaking up the golfing world. Negotiations with established golf circuits could potentially reshape the future of men’s professional golf. For now, it seems that LIV is set to run its third season parallel to the traditional circuits, setting the stage for an intriguing intersection of the old and the new in the world of golf. The debate over the relevance of world rankings is far from over, and as the sport evolves, the landscape of golf will continue to shift in unexpected ways.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Golf Rankings Challenge
What is LIV Golf, and why is it causing a stir in the golf world?
LIV Golf is a new golf tour that’s been making waves since its inception in 2022. It’s funded by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund and has attracted some of the sport’s top talents. The controversy surrounding LIV Golf is because the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) have refused to recognize tournaments on this tour, leading to criticism from prominent players.
Why is Cameron Smith critical of the world rankings?
Cameron Smith, the former Open champion, and many of his peers believe that the OWGR is “almost obsolete” due to its refusal to include LIV Golf tournaments. They argue that some of the world’s best players are excluded from the rankings, which affects their access to major championships and distorts the overall picture of golf’s top talents.
How do world rankings impact major championships?
Major championships like The Open, US Open, and the Masters often use world rankings to determine their player fields. With LIV Golf players missing from these rankings, it becomes more challenging for them to secure spots in these prestigious tournaments, affecting the competition’s overall makeup.
What’s the main concern of the OWGR regarding LIV Golf?
The OWGR’s primary concern centers around limited access for golfers to join the 48-player LIV Golf circuit. They argue that this exclusivity doesn’t align with the broader goals of golf, which aim to provide opportunities for players striving to compete in OWGR-eligible tournaments.
What alternative solutions have been proposed by players like Bryson DeChambeau?
Players like Bryson DeChambeau have suggested alternative criteria for major championships, such as using the top performers on the LIV Golf money list or points list at the end of the year. This would allow the best players from both traditional and new circuits to compete on equal footing in major tournaments.
How might negotiations between LIV Golf and established golf circuits impact the sport’s future?
Negotiations between LIV Golf and established golf circuits, like the PGA and DP World Tours, have the potential to reshape the future of men’s professional golf. The outcome of these talks will determine whether LIV Golf runs in parallel with traditional circuits or finds a more integrated position within the golfing landscape. This could be a turning point for the sport.
More about Golf Rankings Challenge
- Cameron Smith: Golf’s world rankings ‘almost obsolete’
- Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR)
- LIV Golf – all you need to know about Saudi-funded series
4 comments
can’t believe owgr ignoring LIV golf. smith & others rite. no fair 2 exclude talent. skrewed rankings, man!
LIV golf makin’ waves! cameron’s right, owgr obselete, needs change! major clashes comin’.
it’s like, the new guys want a slice of the golf pie, but owgr’s lockin’ them out! big mess!
LIV golf makin’ progress. world rankings? outdated. major changes loomin’. it’s tense out there!