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Can LIV Golfers Earn Major Spots at International Series Oman? OWGR Points and Other Perks Explored

ByParnab Bhattacharya

Feb 25, 2024 | 2:53 AM EST

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OWGR denying world ranking points to LIV golfers has left them in a lurch. As many as 21 LIV golf pros are searching for the holy grail at the International Series Oman. Major organizers mostly rely on the OWGR table for determining the final field. Since LIV Golf pros don’t get OWGR points from teeing up on the breakaway side, the International Series remains one of the few avenues for them to earn a spot.

The leaderboard, led by Carlos Ortiz and Louis Oosthuizen now, reflects the quest. The table is dominated by LIV golfers; five of them are in the top ten. But the question remains: is it viable for the LIV Golf pros toiling at the Al Mouj Golf Club? What does the OWGR point breakdown reveal?

Will a victory mean much for the leaderboard topper?

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The Asian Tour International Series was given a field rating of 88.99, as opposed to the 180.90 allotted to the Mexico Open. The winner at Muscat will receive 17.20% of that to earn 15.39 points. While Louis Oosthuizen has a chance to tee up at the Open as a past champion, Carlos Otriz, however, doesn’t have that luxury.

Carlos Ortiz shot a bogey free 68 to take a share of the lead in the International Series Oman and his brother, Alvaro is tied for the lead in the Mexico Open on the PGA Tour.
We could see 2 brothers winning on different tours on opposite sides of the world tomorrow 🇲🇽 pic.twitter.com/M5y3IUTiEJ
— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) February 24, 2024

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The Mexican, ranked as high as 44 in the past, has fallen to 1286 currently. In his last PGA Tour outing at the 2022 Travelers Championship, the 32-year-old was ranked 115. For further context, at last year’s International Series Oman, Carlos Ortiz was 255. So, 15.39 points won’t make much of a difference for the former University of North Texas alum. For Louis Oosthuizen, however, this can be crucial.

Currently at 137th, South African International has a total point of 34.06 with an average of 0.851. A victory at the International Series Oman will push his average points to 1.204, which can actually propel him inside the top 100, ahead of his compatriot, Dean Burmester.

While a top 100 spot perhaps won’t do much for the Masters, as Augusta traditionally looks at the top 50, it can give him a significant boost in the US Open and PGA Championship. What about others? How many points will they earn?

Points breakdown for the entire field at the International Series Oman

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So far, only a handful of 53 players this season have qualified for the Majors. Joaquin Niemann and David Puig became the latest two LIV players to get a chance at the Majors. Niemann earned his Masters invite, and Puig earned his place at the Open after winning the Malaysian Open. Both are teeing off at the International Series Oman to further their chances at other majors.

1	15.30591	17.20%
2	9.18354	10.32%
3	6.12236	6.88%
4	4.59177	5.16%
5	3.67341	4.13%
6	3.06118	3.44%
7	2.75506	3.10%
8	2.44894	2.75%
9	2.29588	2.58%
10	2.14282	2.41%
11	1.98976	2.24%
12	1.83670	2.06%
13	1.68365	1.89%
14	1.53059	1.72%
15	1.45406	1.63%
16	1.37753	1.55%
17	1.30100	1.46%
18	1.22447	1.38%
19	1.14794	1.29%
20	1.07141	1.20%
21	0.99488	1.12%
22	0.91835	1.03%
23	0.88774	1.00%
24	0.85713	0.96%
25	0.82651	0.93%
26	0.79590	0.89%
27	0.76529	0.86%
28	0.73468	0.83%
29	0.70407	0.79%
30	0.68876	0.77%
31	0.67346	0.76%
32	0.65815	0.74%
33	0.64284	0.72%
34	0.62754	0.71%
35	0.61223	0.69%
36	0.59693	0.67%
37	0.58162	0.65%
38	0.56631	0.64%
39	0.55101	0.62%
40	0.53570	0.60%
41	0.52040	0.57%
42	0.50509	0.56%
43	0.48978	0.55%
44	0.47448	0.53%
45	0.45917	0.52%
46	0.44387	0.50%
47	0.42856	0.48%
48	0.41325	0.46%
49	0.39795	0.45%
50	0.38264	0.43%
51	0.36734	0.41%
52	a0.35203	0.40%
53	0.33673	0.38%
54	0.32142	0.36%
55	0.30611	0.34%
56	0.29081	0.33%
57	0.27550	0.31%
58	0.26020	0.28%
59	0.24489	0.28%
60	0.23264	0.26%
61	0.22652	0.25%
62	0.22040	0.25%
63	0.21428	0.24%
64	0.20816	0.23%
65	0.20203	0.23%

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Niemann is eligible for the Masters and the Open. Currently in fourth place on the leaderboard at the International Series Oman, a victory will significantly boost his chances for the other two majors as well. Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm, Phil Mickelson, Cameron Smith, and Dustin Johnson are qualified for all the majors.