LIV Golf to receive Official World Golf Ranking points in 2026

LIV Golf will begin receiving Official World Golf Ranking points this season, but its players still may not be happy.

That’s because points will only be awarded to the top 10 finishers in the 57-man field. Previously, of the other 24 men’s professional golf tours that are part of the OWGR, all players who make the cut earn Ranking Points.

The points awarded to LIV may not also be high enough to help its players qualify for majors unless they go on quite a run of form. The winner of LIV Riyadh, the first of 14 events on the schedule, is projected to receive 23.03 OWGR points, which is similar to PGA Tour opposite-field events and DPWT Events (25); less than FedEx Cup Fall events (37); and less than half of points received for PGA Tour signature events (66). The winner of the WM Phoenix Open, by comparison, is expected to receive 59 points.

The OWGR release spells out the deficiencies in LIV’s model that led to its decision. A letter from former OWGR chairman Peter Dawson dated Oct. 10, 2023, outlined that LIV’s structure for relegation and meritocracy fell short of the threshold required for any inclusion as an OWGR Eligible Tour (the letter remains available for public viewing on the OWGR’s website): “In order to obtain inclusion in the OWGR system, it is necessary for you to develop a structure that invites new players based on objective, recent performance and relegates under-performing players more quickly and equitably,” Dawson wrote. 

During the LIV Application Committee review of the previous LIV Golf application, LIV Golf’s pathways included three players from its Promotions Event and one from the International Series, for a total of four spots in fields of 54 (7.5%). LIV Golf’s current application includes three players from its Promotions Event and two from the International Series, for a total of five spots in fields of 57 (8.8%).  Meaning, since 2023, LIV Golf has added exactly one playing spot to its pathway structure. The total promotion of five spots (8.8%) remains low compared to the Tour’s (22%) and that of other Tours is even higher. LIV continues to prioritize self-selection of players and guaranteed playing opportunities through contracts.

The OWGR notes that LIV's relegation system has proven inequitable and discriminatory, with four players in 2025 who finished in the “open zone” being dismissed by their teams despite finishing ahead of others not losing their spot, including Japan’s Jinichiro Kozuma, who found out on social media that he was not being retained by Iron Heads GC, which was being rebranded as the Korean Golf Club. Other players impacted include Matt Jones, Kevin Na and Max Lee.

Additionally, Luis Masaveu finished 52nd in points (below the “drop zone”) but was still retained by the Fireballs. This continues to point to discriminatory practices with six of 13 teams nationality based. Additional examples include the re-brand of the all South African Southern Guards Golf Club, and the composition of the Fireballs Golf Club, the Majesticks Golf Club and the Ripper Golf Club, which reflect choices that may be logical for team identity but are inconsistent with OWGR’s Tour Eligibility Standards for non-discrimination. 

LIV initially applied for OWGR points before the 2022 British Open but were rejected in October 2023. The decision infuriated former LIV commissioner Greg Norman and the league formally withdrew its application in 2024. Norman's replacement, Scott O'Neil, resubmitted LIV's bid before the 2025 Masters. 

Ahead of this season LIV took steps deemed necessary to improving its chances of gaining OWGR points. That included announcing greater turnover at the end of the year and expanding tournaments from 54 to 72 holes.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: LIV Golf to receive Official World Golf Ranking points in 2026