LIV Golf getting world rating factors would begin with the Saudi-funded league making use of to the Official World Golf Rating, and chairman Trevor Immelman mentioned Thursday that first step has not occurred.
Immelman, who took over as OWGR chair three weeks in the past, mentioned he has spoken with LIV CEO Scott O’Neil on the cellphone and met with him for an informal dialog throughout the Masters.
“They haven’t put any software in,” Immelman mentioned in a phone interview. “Whether or not that occurs or not, I suppose time will inform.
“… We’re in the identical place we’ve been with none software from their aspect. The ball is of their courtroom.”
The OWGR denied LIV’s authentic software in October 2023, saying it couldn’t pretty measure the league with some two dozen different excursions around the globe due to what amounted to a closed store and the opportunity of competitors being compromised by having staff scores depend concurrently with particular person outcomes.
LIV withdrew its software in Could 2024.
LIV now has 54 gamers — 13 four-man groups and two wild playing cards — a roster that stays the identical (besides alternates for damage) all season. It began a “promotions” occasion that supplied three spots on the finish of 2023, however that was lowered to at least one spot final 12 months. The chief of the Asian Tour’s Worldwide Sequence additionally will get a spot in LIV supplied he is not already a member.
O’Neil changed Greg Norman because the CEO of LIV Golf this 12 months.
The 4 majors use the world rating to assist decide its fields, and the heads of these organizations voted to disclaim LIV’s software.
The U.S. Open and Open Championship this 12 months created a class to supply a path for no less than one LIV participant this 12 months. Joaquín Niemann earned that spot within the U.S. Open. The Masters has mentioned it will probably get the sector it wants by way of use of its particular invites.
Immelman didn’t say whether or not he had any inclination from his conferences with O’Neil that one other software was within the works.
“Our course of is to not go chasing excursions,” Immelman mentioned. “We have now an open door coverage. Whoever needs to use is greater than welcome. There’s no strain from our aspect. We permit these excursions to determine what their finest technique is.”
Immelman mentioned the rejection letter that former OWGR chairman Peter Dawson despatched to LIV in October 2023 was “fairly clear” with the place the board had discovered on the time.
“I might say that’s nonetheless case,” Immelman mentioned. “However till a brand new software is put in, there’s nothing actually we are able to do about it. If the LIV Golf League is eager to be a part of the OWGR, then they should go forward and put one other software in. That is actually the place we’re.”
