LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil has given an update on the circuit’s application to OWGR as they were originally denied at the time of inception in 2022.
13:34 ET, 08 Dec 2025Updated 13:40 ET, 08 Dec 2025
Scott O’Neil says OWGR application is looking toward approval(Image: Getty Images)
Scott O’Neil is begging for LIV Golf to be a part of the Official World Golf Rankings, and rightly so for the benefit of his players and the Saudi-backed circuit.
LIV has applied twice to be a part of the Official World Golf Rankings and even changed their format from the 54-hole, no-cut, closed-field model. Being a part of the OWGR would help their players earn more chances to play in majors and bring LIV one step closer to being more like the PGA and DP World Tour’s.
When LIV was launched in 2022, former CEO Greg Norman applied for accreditation to the OWGR but was denied. New CEO Scott O’Neil reapplied in July 2025 and believes the outcome is looking up.
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“We are working very closely with [chairman] Trevor Immelman and the board of OWGR,” O’Neil, who replaced Norman at the start of 2025, told BBC Sport NI.
“It’s likely that it will have an impact at some point. We are having conversations with Trevor, who is doing an extraordinary and difficult job towards a solution that we hope to have in place by next season.
“There are a whole host of things we are talking through.”
In July, Immelman said the OWGR Board is examining LIV Golf’s application thoroughly.
Trevor Immelman comments on LIV application after original rejection
“The OWGR Board is committed to a thorough evaluation process of all applications, and LIV’s application will be reviewed in accordance with OWGR’s criteria to ensure fairness, integrity and consistency,” said Immelman, a former Masters champion and current broadcaster.
“We appreciate the interest of LIV Golf—and all tours—in contributing to the global landscape of men’s professional golf through OWGR. Further updates will be provided as the review progresses.”
The original denial of the application came from former OWGR chairman Peter Dawson, who questioned LIV’s structure and competitive format.
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“LIV players are self-evidently good enough to be ranked,” Dawson said at the time of rejection. “They’re just not playing in a format where they can be ranked equitably with the other 24 tours and thousands of players trying to compete on them.”
LIV Golf’s stars, including Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm, can only earn OWGR points through major championships or international tour events. Ranking points are crucial for players to earn invites into majors and would give LIV a more ‘normal’ feel, O’Neil said.
He added, “Whatever we have to do to get more people invested in this great game, we’ll do it.”