The legitimacy of the system used to crown the best golfer in the world has been called into question by the sport’s most iconic figure, Tiger Woods, who stated in a recent interview that the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) has “lost its credibility.”
The 15-time major champion’s comments add immense weight to a growing chorus of criticism from players and pundits alike, who argue the ranking system has failed to adapt to the seismic shifts within professional golf, primarily the rise of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf league.
Speaking ahead of his Genesis Invitational, a tournament he hosts, Woods did not hold back when asked about the current state of the OWGR.
“The ranking system has been a standard for a long time, but it’s clear it has lost its credibility in its current form,” Woods stated. “When you have some of the most talented players in the world unable to earn points because of where they choose to play, it doesn’t accurately reflect the true landscape of the game.”
The core of the issue lies in the OWGR’s refusal to grant ranking points to LIV Golf events. The OWGR board, which includes representatives from the four major championships and the PGA Tour, has cited concerns over LIV’s format—including its 54-hole, no-cut structure and limited field—as reasons for withholding accreditation.
This decision has caused a steep decline in the world ranking of LIV players, including past major winners like Cameron Smith, Brooks Koepka, and Dustin Johnson. As a result, many of the sport’s biggest names are now absent from the upper echelons of the ranking, rendering it an incomplete picture of global golf talent.
Woods, while not directly endorsing LIV, highlighted the systemic flaw this creates. “The whole idea of a world ranking is to identify the best players, period,” he explained. “If you can’t get all the best players in the same ecosystem, competing for the same points, then the system itself is broken. It becomes a closed shop, and that’s not good for the sport or the fans.”
The OWGR has maintained that its criteria are designed to ensure a competitive and meritocratic structure. However, critics point out that the system disproportionately rewards players who consistently play in high-point PGA Tour events, while effectively punishing those on rival tours, regardless of their individual skill.
The ramifications are significant. With top LIV players tumbling down the rankings, their pathways into golf’s major championships—which often use the OWGR as a key qualification method—are becoming increasingly limited. This threatens to create a scenario where the sport’s most prestigious events are missing many of its biggest stars.
Woods’ public stance is a pivotal moment in the ongoing divide within professional golf. His voice carries an authority unmatched in the modern game, and his critique places immense pressure on the OWGR governing board to re-evaluate its position or risk its system becoming entirely obsolete.
“The people who run the game have to come together,” Woods urged. “We need a solution that is inclusive and fair, one that truly represents the best players in the world. What we have right now isn’t it.”
As the sport navigates an uncertain future, Tiger Woods has made one thing clear: the official meter used to measure greatness is no longer trusted, and the clock is ticking for those in charge to fix it.
