LIV Golf is forming a strategic alliance with the lesser-known MENA Tour in hopes of earning official World Golf Ranking points for its players, a LIV Golf official confirmed to ESPN on Wednesday.
The MENA Tour, which has organized tournaments in the Middle East and North Africa, was shut down for more than two years during the Covid-19 pandemic before holding a tournament in May. Sheikh Maktoum Golf Foundation in Dubai
LIV Golf is expected to announce the combination on Wednesday. London’s The Telegraph first reported the partnership.
Sources told ESPN on Wednesday that LIV Golf officials are hoping to get confirmation from the OWGR board of governors that players will earn world-class points before the first event in Asia, which begins Friday at Stonehill Golf Club outside Bangkok.
LIV Golf CEO and Commissioner Greg Norman was upset that the OWGR board did not recognize the start-up circuit, which is funded by Saudi Arabia’s public investment fund.
LIV Golf currently has 12 top 50 players in the field, including the world’s No. 3 player and Open Championship winner Cameron Smith. LIV’s golf competitors did not earn OWGR points in the first five events, jeopardizing their chances of qualifying for major championships without early exemptions.
In an Aug. 17 letter to LIV golfers, Norman wrote that the new circuit should “under any fair, objective and impartial review” award world-class points for its events in the near future.
In the letter, a transcript of which was obtained by ESPN, Norman wrote that LIV Golf’s inclusion in the World Ranking Points System is essential to the validity, accuracy and precision of the ranking. LIV Golf officials submitted their application to the OWGR in mid-July and it was discussed by the OWGR technical committee at the 150th Open Championship in St. Andrews, Norman said.
“Without the inclusion of LIV, the accuracy and precision of the standards themselves would be greatly compromised,” Norman wrote. “We trust that the members of the OWGR Board of Governors will understand and appreciate this key consideration and will treat this development with the respect it deserves and fulfill their responsibilities as the Official Directors of the World Golf Standards and the duties involved in those Directors.”
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan is one of the eight members of the OWGR Governors who have banned players from the LIV golf tournament for conflicting incidents without release. Other members include DP World Tour CEO Keith Pelley, USGA CEO Mike Wan, RNDA CEO Martin Slumbers, PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh, Augusta National Golf Club CEO Will Jones and Keith representing the International Federation of PGA Tours. Waters included. .
LIV golfers are allowed to compete in other MENA events with purses of $75,000.
