Graeme McDowell was not shy in his comments about LIV Golf’s continuing quest to earn Official World Golf Ranking Points.
McDowell stated that “We all agree” and that it was impossible to ignore the talent out there ahead of LIV’s last regular season event at Royal Greens Country Club, Jeddah.
“OWGR must remove the word ‘Official’ from their vocabulary if they fail to take care of the players here.”
McDowell’s argument was centered on Dustin Johnson, who won LIV’s season-long individual title last week in Bangkok. Johnson claimed the $18million bonus prize in addition to the $12 million he earned over six previous events (thanks to five top-10 finishes in Boston and a win in Boston) as well as four consecutive team victories of $750,000 each.
McDowell stated, “If (Johnson’s) world ranking inaccuracy, then the entire system is flawed.”
“We are going to be ranked in the world.” Johnson added that it was another way right now. Johnson stated that if we wait too long all rankings will drop so much it won’t matter. We hope (the OWGR), will do the right thing and we all hope to hear within the next week. This will all be over.
Do not hold your breath.
LIV was not eligible for points at Bangkok or Jeddah’s OWGR events. This was after Greg Norman, an upstart circuit and backed Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, formed a “strategic partnership” with the MENA Tour to try to force the OWGR into granting points. Five years after its founding in 2011, the OWGR granted OWGR points to the MENA Tour in 2016.
McDowell, Johnson and Harold Varner III joined them for a pre-event press conference. The trio are the past winners of the Saudi International event at Royal Greens.
“I believe we all knew what we were getting ourselves into. It’s easy to say what could happen and what should happen. For me, however, I knew exactly what was going to occur. He explained that it was not going to be easy. “I believe the people at LIV did a fantastic job… I don’t know anything about the check marks. I couldn’t care less. I knew what was coming. I was aware of what could happen in my professional life, and I accept it.
“I had a great time here. The world ranking thing is just a part golf for so many years, but suddenly some feathers are being ruffled. It’s quite funny, however. It is what it is.
By: Adam Woodard
Title: Graeme McDowell on LIV Golf not earning OWGR points: 'The word 'Official' has to go away' from rankings
Sourced From: golfweek.usatoday.com/2022/10/12/graeme-mcdowell-liv-golf-owgr-points-dustin-johnson/
Published Date: Wed, 12 Oct 2022 19:07:11 +0000
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