Six-time fundamental winner Phil Mickelson on Thursday subsidized actions to award world ranking points for events at the breakaway LIV Golf circuit, announcing it would assist hold the “credibility” of the global leaderboard.
The Saudi-subsidized LIV Series ranges its first occasion in Asia this week and on Wednesday announced a deal to have tournaments co-sanctioned by using the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) Tour and offered Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) factors.The OWGR has not introduced whether or not points will now be presented to LIV activities, starting with this week’s tournament in Bangkok.
But Mickelson, whose departure from the USA PGA Tour helped kickstart the massive-money LIV collection, stated it changed into inside the rating frame’s interests to accomplish that.
“I assume for the World Golf Rankings, this is a super manner to keep its credibility, even as no longer bringing politics into the choice-making technique,” the fifty two-12 months-old left-hander said on the eve of the LIV’s Bangkok Invitational.
LIV has already staged 5 occasions however without any rating factors presented for its players – such as British Open champion Cameron Smith and former global number one Dustin Johnson.
Mickelson, Smith and Johnson are all competing at the new Stonehill direction outdoor the Thai capital for a share of $20 million, with $4 million up for grabs for the winner, effortlessly the most important purse for a golf event in Asia.
The deep pockets of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund have allowed LIV to offer eye-watering prize money – remaining location in Bangkok takes home $120,000 – however have also drawn accusations of “sportswashing”, given the kingdom’s dubious human rights report.
A host of pinnacle gamers have joined the collection, plunging golf into bitter civil struggle as the US PGA Tour and the Europe-based totally DP World Tour have scrambled to keep on to talent at the same time as the Asian Tour, and now the lesser-known MENA Tour, have aligned themselves with LIV.
Only the top 50 gamers within the global qualify robotically for the 4 majors, so top names had been concerned approximately slipping down the rankings.
But Mickelson stated he had no concerns that LIV occasions might accept factors accurately.
“The cause I’m not concerned is that the number of factors are based at the first-rate of the sector and not the agency that is running the event, and the satisfactory of our area is remarkably strong,” he stated.
“I’m positive for the arena golf rankings to hold their credibility, they will preserve to award the right variety of points that the tournaments deserve for all tours.”
US gamers who have signed as much as LIV Golf had been indefinitely suspended from the PGA Tour, even as the DP World Tour has issued fines and quick-term bans.
LIV has announced plans to increase from eight activities this 12 months to fourteen in 2023, with gamers competing for $405 million in prize money.