Sergio Garcia believes the Official World Golf Ranking sees LIV Golf as a threat which is why the Bangkok Invitational was “blocked” from having world ranking points.
Speaking after the second round of the LIV Golf Bangkok Invitational, Garcia wasn’t as passionate as Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau on the OWGR deadlock, but he said the Saudi-backed series are pursuing what they “deserve.”
Since his last appearance on the PGA Tour, the Spaniard has fallen 34 places in the world rankings to 81st. This is an issue that LIV Golf players currently have which could see many of them become ineligible for major championships if they aren’t already exempt.
The OWGR said they were given “insufficient notice” when LIV announced their intention to hold their events on the little-known MENA Tour. The ranking status of LIV events is under review, so the Jeddah Invitational next week also won’t have OWGR points.
“We were excited about it, but I don’t think it’s over. We’re still fighting on it and trying to get what we think we deserve. Hopefully, it’ll come around soon,” Garcia said at Stonehill Golf Course.
“At the end of the day, we’re very happy where we are. If they keep blocking us, it’s because they see us as a threat. So that’s a good thing to have.”
There has been outrage since OWGR announced that the events in Bangkok and Jeddah would not be eligible for world ranking points.
MENA Tour commissioner David Spencer was frustrated with the response as the Bangkok Invitational is the opening event of the MENA Tour’s 2022/2023 season.
“We have had various communications with OWGR since submitting our 2022/23 schedule, MENA Tour handbook, exemption criteria and our field ahead of our opening event of our new season which tees off today,” he said.
“None of this communication pointed towards any technical reason for the LIV Golf Invitational Bangkok to be treated any differently to any MENA Tour event, every one of which has received OWGR since we were accepted into the OWGR framework in 2016.”
Greg Norman told the OWGR and its members to “grow up” in an interview in Thailand, claiming that there is only one tour in the world that is equal or superior to the LIV Golf Tour (presumably the PGA Tour).
“Rise above it all, it’s good for the players, it’s good for the game of golf, it’s good for production, it’s good for corporations, it’s good for OEMs, it’s good for fans, it’s good for everybody,” Norman said.
“Just because you have a negative viewpoint and you’re one of the voting members of an independent organization, that you hate LIV and you vote against it… Grow up.”
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