Many people focused on the nine-figure contracts that major champions like Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson and Bryson deChambeau signed with LIV Golf and their suspensions from PGA Tour. Brooks Koepka was next to sign with LIV, followed closely by Joaquin Niemann, Bubba Watson and Cameron Smith, who won the 2022 Players Championship.
The conversation moved to something money cannot buy — Official World Golf Ranking Points. Greg Norman, the LIV Golf commissioner stated in a statement that LIV Golf competitors should not only start receiving OWGR points for performances but should also retroactively receive points for LIV events that they have already played.
Patrick Reed, Graeme McDowell, and other LIV golfers questioned whether the rankings were legitimate, especially since LIV players were still denied points for LIV events.
LIV Series golfers are critical to ranking for more than pride. Golfers without a major championship win can maintain a high ranking on the OWGR, which allows them to be exempt from future majors. Each championship has its own criteria, but each one rewards golfers who achieve a high rank at specific times by giving them an exemption to their tournament.
The four major golf championships, Augusta National Golf Club and the PGA of America, have not yet announced any changes in their qualifying criteria for 2023. The exemption lists below will determine how professional golfers can get into next season’s Masters Tournament and PGA Championship, U.S Open and British Open.
