Sergio Garcia’s participation in the International Series Macau event has been confirmed by the Asian Tour, following LIV Golf’s eventual defeat in their battle to be recognized by the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).
To stay in the running for the four majors, a total of twenty-one players from LIV Golf will travel to Macau for the tournament scheduled for March 14–17. Even though the players who departed their respective tours for LIV are paid astronomically well, their majors participation may be eliminated in the upcoming years if they are unable to accrue ranking points on the Saudi-sponsored tour.
Even when a number of players on the LIV tour—including Jon Rahm, who is presently ranked third—remain highly ranked in the OWGR as a result of their recent performances, they will frequently fall in the rankings as a result of not accruing more points. Players primarily receive exemptions to the majors based on their accomplishments in major golf circuits, major competitions, or their placement in the official world golf rankings.
LIV originally submitted an application for OWGR recognition in July 2022, and they have since withdrawn it following their rejection in October of last year. Twenty-one players have signed up for the Asian Tour event as a result of the revelation, and that figure may rise in the future.
Now that LIV’s application was turned down and then withdrawn, the players on the Saudi circuit are aware that this is their only chance to make it to the majors. Players will have to give it their all to score as many points as they can during such events, which adds another level of pressure.
Garcia will be in Macau with the likes of Ian Poulter, Pat Perez, and Patrick Reed; nevertheless, Garcia and the other LIV participants have been made fun of on social media. Give up playing golf on the PGA Tour. A user on X asked, “Now playing Asian tour events so they can qualify to play more golf?”
“It would be pretty funny if in the end the LIV guys had to play more golf than they would have if they just stayed on the PGA Tour,” one person wrote. “This is so funny. Another fan said, “I thought they wanted to play less and spend more time with their families.”
LIV withdrew their application, and their commissioner, Greg Norman, confirmed the information in a letter. “We have made enormous efforts to fight for you and to ensure your accomplishments are recognized within the existing ranking system,” Norman stated.
Regretfully, the OWGR hasn’t demonstrated much of a desire to collaborate with us in a useful way. Golf fans have a right to witness the world’s top players compete in the greatest events. It has always been our intention.
“We continue to seek meaningful communication and relationship with each of the majors to ensure that LIV golfers are fairly represented and golf fans around the world have opportunities to see the best competition possible.” The only LIV players currently ranked in the top 50 are Jon Rahm (3), Tyrrell Hatton (17), Brooks Koepka (30), and Cam Smith (50).
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