LIV Golf will receive OWGR points from 2026

 

In a major development for professional golf, the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) has agreed to award world ranking points to LIV Golf events for the first time in its history. The change begins immediately with the 2026 season, starting at the Riyadh event in Saudi Arabia.

 

But there’s a major caveat. Only the top 10 finishers, and ties, in each LIV event will receive OWGR points.

 

That means players finishing 11th or lower in a 57-player field get zero points. This sharply contrasts with established tours like the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, where points are distributed to many more players who make the cut.
 

What OWGR Actually Approved

 

The OWGR governing board classified LIV tournaments under its “Small Field Tournament” criteria because LIV’s structure still does not meet several core eligibility standards, notably:

• Smaller field sizes

• No cut line

• Limited merit-based entry pathways
   

 

OWGR will award points only to the top 10 finishers

 

These structural differences prevented LIV from receiving full parity with other ranked tours.
 

What It Means for Players
 

For top tier LIV players, especially those who consistently finish inside the top 10, this restores a key pathway to maintain and improve global rankings. Those rankings are critical for major championship entry and Olympic qualification.

 

But the points scale remains lower than a typical PGA Tour event. For example, the projected winner’s points at Riyadh are significantly less than what major PGA winners receive.

 

LIV’s Reaction

 

LIV Golf welcomed the recognition but condemned the top 10 restriction as “unprecedented,” arguing that treating a player finishing 11th the same as one finishing last is fundamentally unfair. The tour said this limitation disproportionately harms strong performers and emerging talents.

 

Top players like Jon Rahm have echoed that frustration, calling the ruling a step forward but noting the need for further change to ensure fair treatment comparable to other tours.

 

The Bigger Picture

 

This decision follows years of negotiation. LIV’s earlier application in 2023 was rejected, and the tour only recently adjusted its format, such as expanding events to 72 holes, to meet OWGR requirements more closely.

 

In essence, the OWGR’s move is a compromise. It recognizes LIV’s top performers while preserving the ranking system’s structural integrity. For fans and players alike, it marks progress, but also highlights that the gulf between LIV’s unique model and traditional golf’s established framework remains unresolved.