Former PGA Tour star Marc Leishman’s recent absence has highlighted a significant shift in professional golf rankings.
As his move to LIV Golf underscores the ongoing debate about the recognition of LIV Golfers in the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR). Leishman, a six-time PGA Tour winner and an integral part of Australian golf, has seen his world ranking plummet since joining the LIV circuit due to its lack of OWGR points.
The OWGR system, long regarded as the standard for evaluating global golf talent, has faced criticism for excluding LIV Golf tournaments from its calculations. Critics argue that the absence of points unfairly penalizes elite players who have chosen to compete in LIV events, despite their quality of play. For players like Leishman, who previously ranked among the world’s best, the exclusion has created a barrier to maintaining relevance in the sport’s most prestigious tournaments, including majors.
Leishman’s absence from key events serves as a stark reminder of the broader implications of the ongoing divide between traditional golf institutions and LIV Golf. While proponents of LIV Golf cite its innovative format and financial backing as steps toward modernizing the sport, detractors argue that its exclusion from the OWGR diminishes the competitive integrity of global rankings.
The issue raises questions about how professional golf can adapt to the evolving landscape while ensuring a fair assessment of players across competing tours. Leishman’s situation is emblematic of a growing need for collaboration between LIV Golf and the OWGR to establish a unified system that respects the achievements of all players, regardless of their tour affiliations. Without such cooperation, the rankings risk losing credibility and alienating some of the world’s top talent.
