Reports: Saudi Arabia’s LIV Golf will not receive world ranking points
The controversial tour, which is backed by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, recently made an alliance with Dubai’s MENA Tour in an effort to enable its players to qualify for Official World Golf Ranking points.
The Saudi-funded LIV Golf tour will not qualify for Official World Golf Ranking points after all.
What happened: LIV Golf announced yesterday a “strategic alliance” with the MENA Tour golf competition, which was founded by the Dubai-based Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation. Unlike LIV, the MENA Tour’s events count toward the Official World Golf Ranking, which ranks professional golfers around the world. LIV Golf said it believed that the partnership would enable its golfers to qualify for world ranking points.
However, multiple sports news outlets reported today that LIV’s remaining events this year will not be counted toward the Official World Golf Ranking. The ranking body said that they did not have enough time to review the partnership.
Why it matters: LIV Golf, which is backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, seeks to compete with the PGA Tour, which is the dominant tour internationally. LIV Golf has made progress to this end. LIV has landed several big names in golf in addition to lesser-known players drawn to the relatively huge compensation offered by the breakaway tour.
