LIV Golf has criticized the “unprecedented” decision by the Official World Golf Ranking to award ranking points only to the top 10 players in the 2026 series.

The ruling, which awards LIV Golf world ranking points for the first time since its launch in 2022, appeared to be a positive step for the Saudi-backed tour ahead of its first event of 2026 this week, but it was quickly followed by a strongly worded statement.

The OWGR Board of Directors’ unanimous decision on Tuesday imposed a few conditions, most notably that points will only be awarded to the top 10 and ties at each LIV event.

The decision to group the LIV golf event with other “small field tournaments” that earn ranking points was due to the OWGR’s belief that there are still “many areas” in the series that do not meet the organization’s qualifying standards.

LIV Golf said: “We acknowledge this moment of belated recognition which affirms the fundamental principle that performance on the course should matter no matter where the competition is played.

“However, this result is unprecedented. Under these rules, a player who finishes 11th in a LIV golf event is treated the same as a player who finishes 57th.

“Restricting points to only the top ten players would greatly harm players who consistently perform at a high level but end up just below the threshold, as well as emerging talents struggling to establish themselves on the world stage – the very players that a fair and elite ranking system is designed to recognize.

“No other competitive tour or league in OWGR history has been subject to such restrictions. We hope this is just the first step towards a structure that comprehensively and fairly serves players, fans and the future of the sport.”

England’s Tyrrell Hatton, ranked 22nd, and Bryson DeChambeau, ranked 33rd, are the only LIV players in the top 50, with five other players also cracking the top 100, including Jon Rahm, ranked 97th.

Trevor Immelman, chairman of OWGR and a former Masters champion, said: “This has been an extremely complex and challenging process and we have invested a lot of time and effort in the seven months since LIV Golf submitted its application to resolve it.

“We fully recognize the need to rank the world’s top men’s players, but at the same time must find a way to level the playing field with the thousands of other players competing on other tours that operate along established elite pathways.

“We believe we have found a solution that achieves both of these goals and enables the best performing players in LIV golf events to earn OWGR points.”

OWGR explained in a press release on Tuesday that the average size of the LIV field being well below the minimum 75 specified in the ranking criteria was a major factor in the decision.

Another factor is the lack of promotion in LIV events and the limited access to breakaway tours, which are not necessarily elite.

The decision is effective immediately as the LIV golf season begins in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, and OWGR said LIV’s eligibility for ranking points will continue to be evaluated as the series develops.

LIV Golf added: “We entered this process in good faith and will continue to advocate for a ranking system that reflects performance rather than affiliation. The game should be transparent. Fans should be trustworthy. Players should have a system that treats them equally.”

The board’s decision ends a debate that has lasted almost as long as the launch of LIV in 2022. OWGR rejected the first application in October 2023, when former chairman Peter Dawson said the board could not fairly weigh LIV against other circuits.

Immelman, a lead analyst at US Golf Report, became OWGR chairman last year and has been in contact with new LIV CEO Scott O’Neill.

In 2026, LIV will increase from 54 to 72 holes, but this is not a big obstacle to earning world ranking points because other smaller tours around the world also have 54-hole events. Instead, it’s LIV’s turnover, and the self-selection of players who add to their contracts.

But the board resolved the issues, making LIV Golf the 25th track in the OWGR.

The PGA Tour responded by saying it “respects” OWGR’s decision and the “considerable time” Immelman invested in the process.

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