The golf world has been going through several ups and downs ever since the LIV Golf league came into existence. Leagues and tours, including the PGA Tour, have started changing their traditional ways of operating to stay in the competition. However, among these changes is also the new and updated OWGR system. And it has been receiving all kinds of reactions from fans as well as professional golfers. Moreover, it recently led to a heated debate between a golf page on Twitter and a pro golfer Justin Thomas.
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Justin Thomas falls into a heated debate about OWGR points on social media
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Thomas has been an avid supporter of the PGA Tour and has been a part of it since the early days of his career. Like many other players, Thomas worked very hard and qualified for the PGA Tour back in the day to get his Tour card through Korn Ferry. However, despite the qualification process being the same, players and fans are facing difficulties accepting the new updated system of OWGR.
According to what the fans believe, the OWGR system is giving lesser points to players in Asian Tours compared to those on the PGA Tour. And that is what led to a heated debate that started with a remark by a golf page on Twitter. And golf star Justin Thomas, who has been in support of the new OWGR system, decided to jump in and defend it.
Spieth’s last again at the Hero and will get 2.0886 OWGR points for his effort.
Players need to come 3rd in the Indonesian Masters this week to get that many.
The new system is going to crush the chances of “international” players getting into majors and it’s completely unfair.
— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) December 1, 2022
FlushingItGolf tweeted “Spieth’s last again at the Hero and will get 2.0886 OWGR points…Players need to come 3rd in the Indonesian Masters this week to get that many…The new system is going to crush the chances of “international” players getting into majors and it’s completely unfair.”
And in response to the remark, Thomas mentioned how the system is nothing but fair when it’s giving lesser points to such events. According to him, the new system is all about “the quality of the field”. He mentioned how the Hero World Challenge included around 15 of the world’s top 20 players on the field. And so it was justified for these players to receive more OWGR points.
You’ve earned your right if you’re in this field, that’s just a fact. Anyone is open to going to q school to qualify for Korn ferry and try and get their cards just like I and others did. Tom made most of his exemptions, so I agree to disagree there
— Justin Thomas (@JustinThomas34) December 3, 2022
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When Thomas added that any player could receive those points by playing well in big events, the golf page disagreed. FlushingItGolf wrote that Spieth came last and still got more points than he deserved. But Thomas replied that every player who was on the field had the right to earn better points. The conversation also included Tom Kim’s exemption and how he made it to the tour. However, Thomas believed that Kim made the most of his exemption and said he agreed to disagree with his case.
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The ongoing banter between players and officials has now involved interest from fans on social media. Moreover, players coming forward and defending the new system comes as a surprise to many fans. But Justin Thomas has been vocal about his support for the new system ever since it came into action. And hence, every time someone disagrees with it, Thomas can be expected to come forward and talk about it.
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