LIV Golf Pushes for OWGR Points with Format Overhaul and Bold Vision for 2026
LIV Golf is making its strongest push yet for Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) recognition, and with the 2026 season just around the corner, league CEO Scott O’Neil is hoping the changes they've made will finally get them over the line.
The Saudi-backed league has been chasing OWGR accreditation since its initial rejection in October 2023. That pursuit got a fresh start when O’Neil took the reins from Greg Norman and refiled LIV’s application for 2025. Since then, O’Neil has been in regular contact with OWGR chairman Trevor Immelman, hoping those conversations pave the way for a decision before the new season tees off on February 4 in Saudi Arabia.
“The intention is to get this done before the season starts,” O’Neil said at LIV’s media day in West Palm Beach. “That’s the intention.
But hey, I don’t have a vote, ironically enough. So hopefully that news comes through.”
From 54 to 72: A Structural Shift with Competitive Intent
One of the biggest changes LIV has made? The move from 54-hole events to the traditional 72-hole format. It’s a clear nod to the structure of the major tours - and a strategic play aimed at aligning more closely with the standards OWGR uses to evaluate competition.
“The move to 72 holes was much talked about,” O’Neil said. “For us, that was relatively simple.
We want to make sure our players are best prepared for the majors. It’s not as much of a sprint, and our teams have a chance to recover after a tough day one.”
But this wasn’t just about competitive integrity. O’Neil pointed out the business upside too - more content, more fan engagement, and more opportunities for broadcast and sponsorship activation. “It was good for business, great for golf, and I think resoundingly supported by everyone in the ecosystem and certainly at LIV,” he added.
Building a League with Structure - and Stakes
Beyond the extra round of play, LIV has also expanded its Lock Zone and Drop Zone systems - essentially, mechanisms that secure players’ spots for the following season or, conversely, expose them to relegation. It’s another move toward a more structured, merit-based league model - something critics have long said LIV needed to address if it wanted to be taken seriously in the global golf ecosystem.
O’Neil acknowledged the uphill battle in dealing with the OWGR board, which includes representatives from the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and the four major championships - all entities with varying degrees of incentive when it comes to LIV’s success.
“I’ve been a CEO for a long time and I’ve had different boards, and they all come with their own complexities,” O’Neil said. “His [Immelman’s] is made up of the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour, and the four majors. And there’s some people on that board that don’t have a lot to gain by us getting world ranking points.”
Still, O’Neil insists LIV is doing everything it can to meet the criteria without compromising the identity of the league. “We are trying to lean in as quickly as we can and as far as we can while keeping the integrity of the league.”
Koepka’s Departure Doesn’t Deter the Mission
Even with Brooks Koepka - one of LIV’s biggest names - heading back to the PGA Tour, O’Neil and his executive team remain bullish on the league’s trajectory. Koepka is walking away from the final year of a reported $125 million deal, and there’s chatter that other LIV stars could follow suit.
But O’Neil isn't flinching. “We are confident, we are excited about what’s coming, and we are pushing the edge and the envelope as far and as fast as we can,” he said.
He sees LIV as occupying a unique space in the sport - particularly outside the U.S. “LIV is clearly at the top of the pyramid of golf outside of the U.S. We are the world’s golf league.”
A Billion-Dollar Vision for Franchises
Katie O’Reilly, LIV’s head of team business and operations, laid out a bold goal: each of the league’s 13 franchises reaching a $1 billion valuation. That’s a lofty target, especially considering reports that LIV has lost $1.4 billion since launching in 2022. But O’Reilly is focused on long-term infrastructure.
“Are we there yet? No,” she said.
“But right now we are building the foundation for that. So we are focused and we get to do this with these anchors of global superstars in each one of our 13 franchises who also happen to be our business partners.”
It’s a unique model in pro golf - one that blends team competition with individual play, and one LIV is doubling down on in 2026. Prize purses are set to increase again, with more than $22 million up for grabs in individual events and about $8 million earmarked for team competitions - up from $20 million and $5 million, respectively.
The league also plans to spotlight the team format more prominently in its television broadcasts, hoping to build stronger fan connections and differentiate its product in a crowded golf marketplace.
LIV’s Next Chapter
With format changes in place, OWGR talks ongoing, and a renewed focus on team identity and franchise value, LIV is clearly positioning itself for long-term relevance - and maybe even legitimacy - in the eyes of the traditional golf establishment.
“I feel like everywhere we turn, there are more and more people that want to see some structure and framework emerge in global golf,” O’Neil said. “And I think we’re on the precipice of that.”
Whether that precipice leads to OWGR points - and a seat at the majors’ table - remains to be seen. But LIV isn’t waiting for permission to act like a major player. It’s building like one.