In his first extensive media comments on the issue at the Grand Lakes Resort, Immelman said that he’s forged a strong relationship with O\u2019Neil since taking over as chairman of the seven-member board in April<\/p>\n
LIV Golf will start its fourth season in February and the controversial Saudi Arabia-backed circuit views OWGR accreditation as an important step<\/a> for its credibility and vital to its players who are earning no points when they compete in LIV Golf events. Only five players, led by Tyrrell Hatton, are among the top 100 in the current OWGR<\/a>.<\/p>\n SI Golf Newsletters. Sports Illustrated\u2019s Free Golf Newsletters. dark. Sign Up Now<\/p>\n Immelman didn\u2019t promise that a decision would be made in time for the start of LIV\u2019s season, but said that LIV’s pitch is very much top of mind.<\/p>\n \u201cI think there\u2019s a chance,\u201d Immelman said when asked if a decision could be forthcoming before LIV\u2019s first event in Riyadh. \u201cWe\u2019ve been hard at work. I\u2019m in constant communication with my board, who are fairly busy people, as have Scott, and I said no decision has been made yet.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd people are like, ‘What have you been doing for six months?’ I\u2019ve been doing a ton. I can promise. I am working on this10 hours a week since I took this role. Which is more than what was sold to me. But at the end of the day, my love for the sport and professional golf shines through. And we\u2019re doing everything with the utmost integrity.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I would say Scott is doing the same, and that\u2019s why we have a great relationship and we are trying our best to figure things out. But I don\u2019t want anybody out there to think I just sit at home and do nothing and wake up every morning saying, ‘Oh, here\u2019s more time that I cannot give to LIV (and) points.’\u201d<\/p>\n LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil is eager to get his league accredited by the OWGR. \/ Chung Sung-Jun\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Immelman made it clear that he is a non-voting member of the OWGR board, which is comprised of the heads of the four major championships as well as PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, DP World Tour CEO Guy Kinnings and Nick Dastey, the director of the Australasia Tour.<\/p>\n Unlike a previous bid that was denied by the OWGR in 2023<\/a>, Monahan and Kinnings have not recused themselves from discussing or voting on the current application<\/a>, which was submitted on June 30. Immelman said a unanimous vote of the board is not required.<\/p>\n \u201cI see myself as bit more of a point guard in this role, gathering information, spreading that information to the board, and then they make their decision,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve been working extremely hard\u2014and you can ask Scott that question, as he has\u2014in trying to find a solution for this.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n