‘Someone Needs To Be Held Accountable’ - Lee Westwood On OWGR Issues
Westwood thinks someone should be held responsible for Jon Rahm's failure to improve his OWGR despite his amazing form
Jon Rahm has found support for his confusion over the world rankings in the form of LIV Golf player Lee Westwood.
The former World No.1 responded to a tweet from world ranking expert @VC606, who commented about the perceived injustice of Rahm failing to improve on his World No.5 ranking despite winning the Sentry Tournament of Champions - his third victory in five tournaments. Collin Morikawa had looked poised for victory until a late collapse allowed Rahm to claim the title. Still, despite finishing runner-up, the American also failed to see an improvement in his World No.11 position - a fact also pointed out in the tweet.
Westwood – whose own ranking has fallen dramatically since his move to the Greg Norman-fronted organisation, responded: “It’s not life or death but someone needs to be held accountable.”
It’s not life or death but someone needs to be held accountable.January 9, 2023
The controversy is the latest of a series of issues facing the OWGR. It faces criticism for tweaks to its system that place more emphasis on strength of field based on the number of players in tournaments rather than the quality. Meanwhile, the changes have also drawn accusations that it heavily favours the PGA Tour. To add to its woes, it is also embroiled in a battle with LIV Golf, which hopes to be granted eligibility to award OWGR points in its tournaments.
It’s not the first time Westwood has criticised the world ranking revisions. In the weeks following their implementation, he blasted the new system, taking to Twitter to write: “Literally makes all the tours around the world feeder tours. How they could vote for this and get it passed I have no idea.”
Other players who have been heavily critical of the OWGR in recent months include Westwood’s LIV Golf colleague Ian Poulter, former pro Mike Clayton, who has called for it to be scrapped, and Tiger Woods, who has admitted the world rankings are flawed. At last November’s Hero World Challenge, the 15-time Major winner said: “OWGR, it’s a flawed system. That’s something we all here recognise. The field at Dubai got less points than Sea Island and more of the top players were there in Dubai, so obviously there’s a flawed system.”
Woods was referring to the prestigious DP World Tour Championship, where Rahm emerged victorious in a strong field yet received fewer OWGR points than RSM Classic winner Adam Svensson, despite the Canadian competing in a field populated by far fewer of the world’s best players.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
With Westwood once again questioning the system in light of Rahm's failure to improve his standing despite another victory, it emphasises the suggestion that changes may be necessary to make the points awarded more representative of the quality of players participating in tournaments.
Mike has over 25 years of experience in journalism, including writing on a range of sports throughout that time, such as golf, football and cricket. Now a freelance staff writer for Golf Monthly, he is dedicated to covering the game's most newsworthy stories.
He has written hundreds of articles on the game, from features offering insights into how members of the public can play some of the world's most revered courses, to breaking news stories affecting everything from the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to developmental Tours and the amateur game.
Mike grew up in East Yorkshire and began his career in journalism in 1997. He then moved to London in 2003 as his career flourished, and nowadays resides in New Brunswick, Canada, where he and his wife raise their young family less than a mile from his local course.
Kevin Cook’s acclaimed 2007 biography, Tommy’s Honour, about golf’s founding father and son, remains one of his all-time favourite sports books.
-
Phil Mickelson Announces Brother Tim To Retire As His Caddie
The LIV Golf player, who won the 2021 PGA Championship with Tim alongside him, made the announcement on his social media platforms
By Mike Hall Published
-
Greg Norman's Former Agent Says World Golf Hall Of Famer Invented Idea Behind LIV In 1960s
Hughes Norton makes the claim in an interview to promote his new book
By Mike Hall Published
-
Jon Rahm Calls On Majors To Consider Invite For 'Left Out' LIV Player
The current Masters champion suggested there was one player in the LIV Golf League that has been "a little bit left out" despite being "fantastic" in 2023
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
'What The F***?' How PGA Tour Pros (Including Rory McIlroy And Justin Thomas) Reacted To Merger News During Full Swing Season 2
The Netflix cameras captured the reactions of a number of PGA Tour pros after the June 6 agreement became public which were shared in Season 2 of 'Full Swing'
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Arnold Palmer Invitational Prize Money Payout 2024
One of the most lucrative events of the season takes place at Bay Hill as Kurt Kitayama defends his title
By Mike Hall Published
-
Seminole Pro-Member Results: How Did Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, And Justin Thomas Fare?
PGA Tour member Mackenzie Hughes claimed the 'gross' title alongside partner, Frank Edwards while Erik van Rooyen and John Pinkham secured the 'net' prize at Seminole Golf Club
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Tiger Woods Confirmed For Surprise Start In Event He's Never Played Before
The 15-time Major winner will tee it up in Florida alongside the likes of Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
PGA Tour Pro Says Jon Rahm ‘Broke An Unwritten Code’ With LIV Golf Defection
A current top-100 PGA Tour player believes Rahm's move to LIV Golf could end up pushing any kind of unity much further down the road
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
When And Where Could Tiger Woods Play Next?
The 15-time Major winner had previously mentioned he is aiming to play around a tournament a month - so where could he tee it up next?
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Why Did Tiger Woods Withdraw From The Genesis Invitational? The 15-Time Major Winner (And His Agent) Explain...
Woods was making his eagerly-anticipated first full PGA Tour start of 2024 at the Genesis Invitational in southern California
By Jonny Leighfield Published