LIV Golf League: Jon Rahm questions limited world ranking points on offer and explains why OWGR ruling 'doesn't seem fair'
The top 10 finishers at LIV Golf League events will earn world ranking points for the 2026 season; Jon Rahm, Ian Poulter and Martin Kaymer were among the players to react to the decision at the season-opening event in Riyadh
Wednesday 4 February 2026 21:16, UK
Jon Rahm has welcomed LIV Golf League events finally being awarded world ranking points but believes "there's work to be done" to address a ruling that "doesn't seem fair".
The Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) confirmed on Tuesday that it would recognise LIV Golf for the first time, ahead of its fifth season starting in Saudi Arabia this week, although only the top 10 finishers at its events will be awarded world ranking points.
LIV Golf described the announcement as a "long overdue moment of recognition" but one that "disproportionately harms players who consistently perform at a high level but finish just outside that threshold", with those finishing 11th or worse in a 57-man field still earning no points.
- LIV Golf criticises 'unprecedent' world rankings verdict
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The OWGR said there are "a number of areas" where LIV Golf does not meet eligibility standards, despite increasing events to 72 holes and making changes to their relegation, although it is issuing ranking points "in an effort to reflect the changing landscape of the men's professional game".
"It's fantastic that we're being recognised in a way," Rahm said after his opening round in Riyadh. "With that said, I don't like how we're not being treated the same as every other tour.
"It seems like the rules that have been in place don't really apply to us, with only 10 of us getting points. It doesn't seem fair. The small fields out there throughout the course of the year, their players get full points.
"There's work to be done. While it's good for some people, it could cause some players to actually lose world ranking points instead of gaining them because finishing 11th is basically a missed cut, and we're already adding to the divisor.
"But I'm thankful that I would say LIV Golf got their foot in the door, and there's a possibility for us to walk in the room and be recognised as a tour, as we should be."
Rahm's views were backed up by former Ryder Cup stars Martin Kaymer and Ian Poulter, who both questioned the ranking points being limited to such a small percentage of LIV Golf line-ups.
"Mixed views," Poulter said on Wednesday. "I think first and foremost, it's good to have LIV recognised finally. After all these years, we should be getting points, so that's a massive plus.
"On the flip side, I'm not about sure the algorithm that they've used to figure out the points."
Kaymer added: "On one hand, it's great that we're tapped in and that we have a chance now to get world ranking points. It has been a long time coming for us and I believe it is a step in the right direction.
"On the other hand, it would have been nice for more players will get more world ranking points. Finishing 11th to 15th in some events is a great effort, is a good achievement, yet it gives you zero points. That's the downside of it.
"I think we should focus on the positives - it's a step in the right direction and let's see where we can go from here."
LIV Golf's full statement to world ranking update
The full statement by LIV Golf, issued on Tuesday after the OWGR announced its update, said: "The stated mission of the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) is to 'administer and publish a transparent, credible, and accurate ranking based on the relative performances of players participating in male Eligible Golf Tours worldwide'.
"We acknowledge this long overdue moment of recognition, which affirms the fundamental principle that performance on the course should matter, regardless of where the competition takes place.
"However, this outcome is unprecedented. Under these rules, a player finishing 11th in a LIV Golf event is treated the same as a player finishing 57th.
"Limiting points to only the top 10 finishers disproportionately harms players who consistently perform at a high level but finish just outside that threshold, as well as emerging talent working to establish themselves on the world stage-precisely the players a fair and meritocratic ranking system is designed to recognise.
"No other competitive tour or league in OWGR history has been subjected to such a restriction. We expect this is merely a first step toward a structure that fully and fairly serves the players, the fans, and the future of the sport.
"We entered this process in good faith and will continue to advocate for a ranking system that reflects performance over affiliation. The game deserves transparency. The fans deserve credibility. And the players deserve a system that treats them equally."
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