LIV Golf rebels Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickleson have soared back up the world rankings after the American duo tied for second place at The Masters.
With rebel events currently not afforded OWGR points, with number of defectors permitted to play at Augusta was limited to just 18. And that number was reduced by two before the second round cut mark had even been reached, as both Kevin Na and Louis Oosthuizen withdrew from injury.
But the undoubted additional hype that surrounded the first major of 2023 not only added an extra dimension for fans, but the action arguably dispelled the notion that LIV players were ill-prepared amid competing in 54-hole events. Indeed, heading into Sunday Greg Norman and co seemed set to get the winner they craved as Koepka led Jon Rahm by two shots.
It wasn't to be for Koepka, who could only limp to a final round of 75 whilst R ahm was sublime to fire a three under par 69 and take the green jacket by four shots. Veteran Mickleson meanwhile, rolled back the years with a 65 to join Koepka in second place, his round representing the lowest ever score by a player over 50 at The Masters.
But whilst the 2023 Augusta crown evaded them, both capitalised on a rare chance to move back up the rankings. Koepka built up to The Masters by becoming the first player to win two separate LIV events as he prevailed in Orlando, meaning a ranking of 118 - not to mention odds of 40/1 to win The Masters - appeared misleading.
He's now surged back up to No 37. But Mickleson, who has cut a divisive figure throughout the sport's civil war, is the main benefactor having previously dropped to a lowly 425 - only to now find himself back in the world's top 100 at No 72.
Another former Masters winner and LIV defector Patrick Reed also enjoyed a big rise, with his tied fourth place finish elevating him from No 70 to 45. Cam Smith remains the best of Norman's signings at No 5, but is underwhelming Masters, where he ended up tied for 34th at four over par, has ensured he'll remain there.
And the argument over the rankings format is now likely to exacerbate. The likes of Koepka, Mickleson and Reed, via a top-12 finish and being previous winners, will all be back at The Masters in 2024, but the number of LIV players in future majors will only diminish for as long as their tour is snubbed by the OWGR.
Furthermore, chances to earn points via the DP World Tour are now all but over, after an arbitration panel adjudged in favour of the status quo over the dispute as to whether rebel players could hold cards on both tours without sanction. And for all the justified misgivings over the Saudi-backed venture, last week at Augusta strongly implied that golf's biggest events will be poorer without them.
