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via Reuters

via Reuters

When the defectors chose to join LIV Golf they were sweetly compensated with big cheques. However, they had some worries on their plates which in time slowly eliminated. They were given the approval to play in the major championships should they qualify, one one player even played in the Ryder Cup. But the worry of OWGR ranking has been a constant pain for them.

Despite Greg Norman’s best efforts, OWGR hasn’t yet decided to grant ranking to the LIV Golfers who keep on slipping massively. While this brings much satisfaction to LIV’s biggest hater Tiger Woods, one of his opponents did find a footing in the list while another struggled.

Will Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia face the consequences of falling ranks?

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It goes without saying that Tiger Woods was the most devastated person when a majority of good players left the PGA Tour and joined the Saudi league. He was hurt by their betrayal. Even his arch-rival Phil Mickelson also went away. Then from the DP World Tour, some other rivals like Sergio Garcia followed which further infuriated Woods.

However, he must seek comfort in the fact that the defectors are still not given OWGR points and as a result the LIV players’ rankings are getting affected by the day. For Phil Mickelson the situation could have turned into a nightmare had not he had some previous good performances to bank upon.

This year he finished T2 at the Masters Tournament which not only brought him a paycheck of $1,584,000 but also improved his ranking from 425 to to 72. In 2021, he won the PGA Championship thanks to which he didn’t need to play in many qualifiers and got direct entry and many other perks. Now he is on 110.

USA Today via Reuters

But Sergio Garcia doesn’t enjoy a similar fate and has to go through hardships in the coming season.

Also Read – “Throw the First Punch”: Phil Mickelson’s Grim Face Gets Revealed After His Nemesis Alan Shipnuck Brings Out a 1999 Major Event Story to Light

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Sergio Garcia will bite the dust next year?

Spain’s Sergio Garcia made a dramatic exit from the European Tour but he hasn’t been able to win any event on LIV Golf till now. Moreover, he only qualified to play in two majors where he missed the cut in the Masters Tournament and finished on 27 at the US Open. No wins and good finishes have come to haunt Garcia whose spot on the OWGR has fallen to 375. He has to play in next year’s qualifiers to participate in the major championships.

via Reuters

It has been a long time since the Saudi-backed league has registered a petition with the OWGR to grant their players ranking but the authorities are sure to take their own sweet time. In such case, their only option is to play in the major championships to regain some points. So one can see Garcia is now in a fix!

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