After PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and DP World Tour CEO Keith Pelley recused themselves from the official World Golf Ranking Board, which is considering the issue, representatives of the four major championships in men’s golf will decide whether LIV Golf League players will receive World Ranking points. .
Pelley told The Telegraph in London on Monday that he and Monaghan had recused themselves from a board meeting in December where LIV Golf’s OWGR accreditation was raised and would not be part of the decision-making process in the future.
A PGA Tour official confirmed to ESPN on Monday that Monahan had recused himself from the case.
Pelley told the Telegraph that Augusta National Golf Club, PGA of America, R&A and USGA representatives will ultimately decide whether golfers will receive World Class points to compete in LIV golf events.
“I have not looked at LIV’s application and I have not commented on an application that I have not seen,” Pelley told the Telegraph. “So, as far as LIV goes, we’re not involved in this and have no influence or say in what circumstances.”
LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman suggested Monaghan and Pelley refrain from considering the application because their districts are involved in ongoing litigation with LIV Golf.
LIV Golf and three of its players are plaintiffs in a federal antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour, alleging that LIV Golf used the tour’s monopoly power to suppress competition and prevent vendors and media companies from doing business with LIV Golf. They also accused the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, majors and others of conspiring to keep LIV golfers from getting world class points.
The PGA Tour sued LIV Golf, claiming it interfered with its contracts with players.
LIV Golf applied for OWGR accreditation in July. LIV Golfers They were not awarded points to compete in the new circuit competition in 2022, causing many to fall in the world rankings.
Two-time major champion Dustin Johnson, LIV Golf’s first individual champion and team champion, was ranked No. 3 in the world at the start of 2022 but dropped to No. 44. 2020 US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau dropped from fifth to 88th at the same time.
