PGA Tour star brutally silences LIV Golf rivals as world ranking row rolls into Olympics

A number of prominent LIV Golf players have seen their rankings fall in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) since joining the breakaway league. This has drawn little sympathy from PGA Tour star Nick Taylor, who commented on the situation as the LIV Golf players continue to drop in rankings due to the league’s events not offering OWGR points. The LIV Golf league, now two years old, has not received accreditation from the ranking system for its 54-hole, no-cut events, which has significantly impacted the rankings of its top players.

The debate over the OWGR has been reignited recently, particularly concerning the Olympic golf event, which selects its field based on these rankings. As a result, notable LIV Golf players such as Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, and Cam Smith will not compete in the Paris Olympics. Taylor remarked that these players were aware of the consequences when they chose to join LIV Golf. “I think you can ask any of them; they knew what decision they were making,” Taylor said, acknowledging that the lack of OWGR points was a foreseeable outcome.

Taylor emphasized that players on the PGA Tour or DP World Tour who continue to receive ranking points are in a more favorable position. He believes the current system is as fair as possible under the circumstances. “For guys that went to LIV and aren’t able to be here, they made that choice,” he added.

Despite the challenges, seven LIV Golf players will compete at Le Golf National this week, including Jon Rahm, who is representing Spain. Rahm, whose high world ranking secured his place in the Olympics, suggested that countries should have the freedom to select their own representatives for the Games. “Allow the countries to pick themselves,” Rahm proposed, drawing a comparison to Team USA basketball, which selects its players independently.

David Puig, Rahm’s partner, earned his spot on the Spanish team by playing on the Asian Tour over the past year to improve his world ranking. Other LIV Golf players in the Olympic field include Abraham Ancer and Carlos Ortiz for Mexico, and Joaquin Niemann and Mito Pereira for Chile. Adrian Meronk will also compete for Poland.

The issue of OWGR points remains a significant challenge for LIV Golf players, impacting their eligibility for major events like the Olympics. As the league continues to evolve, the debate over how to best accommodate these players in global competitions is likely to persist.