PETER UIHLEIN OF LIV GOLF'S 4 ACES GC PLAYING AT LAST WEEK'S ALFRED DUNHILL LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP ON THE DP WORLD TOUR. IMAGE - MATT HOOPER
10 OCTOBER, 2023 - SHANK, BY MATT HOOPER: LIV GOLF HAS RESPONDED TO THIS EVENING'S DECISION TO REJECT THEIR APPLICATION FOR OFFICIAL WORLD GOLF RANKING POINTS IN A STRONGLY WORDED STATEMENT:
STATEMENT FROM LIV GOLF ON TODAY'S OWGR DECISION
“OWGR’s sole objective is to rank the best players across the globe. Today’s communication makes clear that it can no longer deliver on that objective.
“Players have historically remained subject to a single world ranking to qualify for Major Championships, the biggest events, and for corporate sponsor contract value. A ranking which fails to fairly represent all participants, irrespective of where in the world they play golf, robs fans, players and all of golf’s stakeholders of the objective basis underpinning any accurate recognition of the world’s best player performances. It also robs some traditional tournaments of the best fields possible.
“Professional golf is now without a true or global scoring and ranking system. There is no benefit for fans or players from the lack of trust or clarity as long as the best player performances are not recognized.
“LIV will continue to strive to level set the market so fans, broadcasters, and sponsors have the assurance of an independent and objective ranking system and the pure enjoyment of watching the best golf in the world.”
“Players have historically remained subject to a single world ranking to qualify for Major Championships, the biggest events, and for corporate sponsor contract value. A ranking which fails to fairly represent all participants, irrespective of where in the world they play golf, robs fans, players and all of golf’s stakeholders of the objective basis underpinning any accurate recognition of the world’s best player performances. It also robs some traditional tournaments of the best fields possible.
“Professional golf is now without a true or global scoring and ranking system. There is no benefit for fans or players from the lack of trust or clarity as long as the best player performances are not recognized.
“LIV will continue to strive to level set the market so fans, broadcasters, and sponsors have the assurance of an independent and objective ranking system and the pure enjoyment of watching the best golf in the world.”
THIS RESPONSE BY LIV GOLF IS A CLEAR STATEMENT OF INTENT, AND IT MUST PUT THE POTENTIAL MERGER WITH THE PGA TOUR AND DP WORLD TOUR IN SOME DOUBT. WITH LIV GOLF STAGING ITS FINAL INDIVIDUAL EVENT OF THE 2023 SEASON IN JEDDAH THIS WEEK, THIS STORY IS SURE TO DOMINATE THE UPCOMING PRESS CONFERENCES AT THE EVENT. IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHAT THE VIEWS OF THE WIDER GOLF COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE DP WORLD TOUR, ASIAN TOUR AND OTHERS TOURS OUTSIDE OF THE USA ARE. THERE IS NO DOUBT THE ALTERATIONS MADE TO THE OWGR SYSTEM LAST SUMMER HAVE CAUSED CONTROVERSY AMONG MANY MEMBERS OF THE OTHER TOURS. LAST WEEK'S ALFRED DUNHILL LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP ONLY AWARDED 26 POINTS TO THE WINNER, LESS THAN THE SANDERSON FARMS CHAMPIONSHIP ON THE PGA TOUR. WHICH IS NOT REFLECTIVE OF THE FIELD, OR HELPFUL IN PROVIDING OPPORTUNITY FOR GOLFERS WHO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP OF PRESTIGE TO PROGRESS IN THEIR CAREERS.
ONE THING IS FOR CERTAIN, THE DEBATE, THE ACRIMONY AND THE DIVISION WILL CONTINUE TO GROW IN THE COMING DAYS AND WEEKS, UNLESS A RESOLUTION IS REACHED.
