LIV Golf star Charles Howell III believes he and his fellow rebel players 'deserve' world ranking points, as the breakaway circuit's omission from the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) continues.
Despite initial criticism, LIV have made serious strides to establish themselves as a rival to the PGA Tour at the top of the professional golf pyramid after forming less than a year ago. CEO Greg Norman has been able to lure in some of the sport's biggest names, whilst offering lucrative prize pots at each event.
The key component the Saudi-funded series is missing from its armour though is sanctioning from the powers that be at the OWGR.
Since forming last June, LIV Golf events have gone ahead without the offering of world ranking points, which has in turn seen its playing roster tumble down the rankings. According to OWGR, the breakaway league are yet to meet their requirements for recognition, with their application ongoing.
A whole host of LIV stars have called on the ranking system to finally pull the trigger in sanctioning the Saudi-backed series, with the latest being Howell. Speaking at this week's event in Tulsa, he said: "The World Golf Ranking system, obviously I think it needs some tweaking.
"I think we've put together good enough fields and events that are deserving of World Ranking points. Obviously that starts a big debate and a longer one, but I think quite simply put, I think we're deserving of World Ranking points."
The lack of ranking points has caused havoc for those on the LIV circuit, most notably due to their ranking position costing rebels a place at golf's four major championships. One argument put forward by CEO Norman is for the world of golf to adopt a new ranking system, calling on OWGR to 'fold' if they fail to sanction LIV tournaments.
Do you think LIV Golf players deserve world ranking points? Let us know in the comments section below.
Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald last September, he commented: "It makes OWGR look obsolete if they don’t [accept LIV]. If they wake up at the end of the year and Dustin Johnson is 102 in the world, is that not a laughing stock to the OWGR? There’s two ways they can go: they can either fold, or they include LIV into OWGR.”
And Howell has made a similar proposal, after floating the idea of alternative criteria to allow LIV stars to qualify for golf's four majors. "I think there needs to be some other form of criteria," he added. "Not just for me but for the next generation, next guys coming up to play their way into major championships."
