ORLANDO, Fla. — Trevor Immelman mentioned Friday that as chairman of the Official World Golf Rating he’s in fixed contact with LIV Golf’s CEO, and the board is engaged on points such because the composition of the circuit’s 54-a-side league, which is funded by Saudi Arabia.
LIV Golf has not earned any world rating factors since its launch in June 2022, and solely six gamers are on the planet’s prime 100 in factors earned from majors and occasions on the Asian Tour and European Tour.
LIV’s first utility to turn out to be a part of the OWGR system was rejected in October 2023. The corporate filed a brand new utility final summer season underneath Chief Govt Officer Scott O’Neill, who was employed to interchange Greg Norman.
Immelman, a former Masters champion and present CBS golf analyst, was named OWGR champion in April. He says he speaks frequently with O’Neal, even texting him on Friday in the course of the PNC Championship pro-am.
“We have all been working laborious collectively, making an attempt to get solutions and making an attempt to grasp what they wish to do,” Immelman mentioned. “They’re making an attempt to determine how their league goes to evolve. They determined to go 72 holes. From what I hear, they are going to increase their subject little by little and possibly wish to develop much more.”
“There is a very collaborative course of happening proper now between Scott and I and the board to resolve that.”
The following season of LIV Golf begins on February 4th in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Requested if there was an opportunity a choice can be made by then, Immelman mentioned: “I feel there’s an opportunity.”
LIV began with a 54-hole occasion with no reduce, however has determined to carry a 72-hole occasion for the 2026 season. Immelman mentioned the variety of holes performed has by no means been a giant concern.
As a substitute, he identified how the 24 excursions which can be a part of the OWGR function with a leaning towards the idea of meritocracy.
LIV Golf lastly noticed some notable turnover this 12 months, with 49-year-old Henrik Stenson amongst six gamers who completed within the prime 48 and had been relegated from the league.
Luis Massabeu, a 23-year-old from Spain, signed with the Fireballs staff this 12 months. He performed in eight LIV occasions, changing former U.S. Beginner champion Josele Ballester, and performed in seven Problem Tour occasions in Europe with out ending within the prime 10, earlier than re-signing with LIV in 2026.
“If you happen to take a look at the OWGR and the way it’s structured with eligible excursions around the globe, it is a meritocracy,” Immelman mentioned. “That is one of many beauties of our sport is that you simply struggle to earn a spot on the tour and hold your job on that tour.
“And we have been working alongside the strains of working with them to grasp their league by way of meritocracy, promotion and relegation, and in the end the self-selection facets of how the league is structured.”
Mr. Immelman has no voting rights as chairman. He mentioned a seven-member board will resolve which excursions will be part of the OWGR. In contrast to the earlier vote, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monaghan and European Tour CEO Man Kinnings can have their say. They had been excluded from earlier OWGR discussions involving LIV. One cause is that litigation was ongoing throughout these conferences.
Different board members signify Augusta Nationwide, R&A, USGA, PGA of America and different excursions.
LIV Golf poached a number of prime gamers with enormous signing bonuses when it launched in 2022, however was thought of a closed store. Just one participant entered the league from this season’s promotion occasion. In 2026, two gamers will probably be chosen from the Asian Tour Worldwide Collection, and two extra gamers will earn spots by means of the LIV model of Q-College subsequent month.
They’ve additionally signed Victor Perez (France) and Rory Kanter (England) for subsequent season.
“If a specific league needs to earn factors, there are long-standing laws that every one different eligible excursions have adopted to take part within the OWGR,” Immelman mentioned. “Meritocracy is a giant side of the way you get promoted and demoted on and off tour. In reality, that is a giant a part of what I have been speaking about with Scott.”
World rating factors are thought of necessary to LIV Golf’s credibility and serving to its members advance to the majors, all of which depend on the OWGR as a part of their standards. LIV gamers can earn rating factors solely in main tournaments and by taking part in on circuits apart from the PGA Tour, the place it’s prohibited.
