The latest weekend was one for the history books! Three LIV Golf players were in contention to win the 2024 International Series Oman. But after a fierce clash, Carlos Ortiz emerged victorious on Sunday. On the other side of the ocean, a PGA Tour rookie was creating history on the same day.
Jake Knapp secured his maiden win on the Tour within a short time of earning the card. The two winners will be elated to take home the trophy and the prize money. But in the department of OWGR points, the PGA Tour winner has left the LIV Golf winner behind. To make things worse, fans have not offered any sympathy for it! How exactly did the player from the breakaway league get robbed? Let’s find out.
After both their wins, Knapp and Ortiz have been awarded OWGR points, just not equally. Knapp got 31.1 points for his win whereas the LIV golfer, Ortiz had to settle for almost half of PGAT pro’s points, that is 15.3 points. LIV golfers have been fighting a battle for getting OWGR points for playing on the Saudi-funded league, but that has been somewhat of a wasted battle so far. Now, with LIV players having to play in other events, and still not being able to equal OWGR points as the PGA Tour pros, is a valid question! But the Tours that LIV golfers play on, do play an integral role in points being awarded.
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Looks like Carlos Ortiz will get ≈ 15 owgr pts for winning Oman. PGA Mexico event winner will get ≈ 31 owgr pts. OWGR self reinforcing PGA field strength skews pts to double for PGA event, tho arguably Oman International Series is a better field/win. DOUBLE the pts for PGA.
— The Real BlueCo ⛳️〽️🧊 St Crispin (@real_blueco) February 25, 2024
This disparity in the distribution of points hints that the OWGR might favor PGA Tour events more. Following the win, Jake Knapp has jumped forty-eight spots and is now in his career-best 52nd OWGR. On the other hand, Carlos Ortiz is in the 237th OWGR despite his top-spot finish.
It is considered that winning on the Tour bigger than winning anywhere else, such as Oman. It is the norm of awarding almost double points that supports the notion. As it turns out, the golf fans feel the same way!
Golf enthusiasts do not empathize with the LIV Golf winner
This has led to a debate online about the OWGR point distribution. Some fans are taking the side of the LIV Golf player, while others are calling it a fair distribution.
Read More: ‘Haven’t Got Them’: Carlos Ortiz Boldy Reveals LIV Pros Got Catfished With World Ranking Promise
One fan straight away said Oman Field “wasn’t a better field lol.”
It wasn’t a better field lol
— Brent Block (@bblock1924) February 26, 2024
Another fan supported the claims by saying the points given out to both are fair considering the Mexico Open is on the PGA Tour and Oman is on the Asian Tour.
It’s the f ing Asian tour stupid
— Alwaysdogs (@Believeindogs1) February 26, 2024
To keep things fair, one fan even compared the TUGR rankings, proving the Oman field where the LIV Golf player won was not stronger.
Using independent TUGR rankings.
Mexico open Finau 29, Hojgaard 36, Grillo 54, Fox 61, Detry 62 Olesen 72, Mitchell 73, Suh 79, Rai 81.
Oman Jaco 37, Burmester 47, Puig 88, Munoz 83, Mito 93, Lahiri 98, Ancer 104, Ortiz 105, Louis 108
Hard to say the Oman was stronger tbh— Mancey (@ManceyAus) February 26, 2024
However, not all fans felt the same way about this separate point distribution. A fan asked for a new system to calculate points, calling the OWGR as outdated as a landline phone.
With a changing global golf landscape – the OWGR is now simply outdated and irrelevant. No one thought the ‘land line’ would need to be replaced until cell phones came along😉
— Ray B (@RTChi58) February 25, 2024
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Another fan supported the need for a new system, calling OWGR not worthy.
The @OWGRltd is junk!
— H.R. Fernández🇺🇸🇵🇷✈🖤💙 (@MondoCafrondo) February 26, 2024
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However, the overall consensus of the golf fans is in favor of OWGR, showing a non-empathetic look to the LIV Golf player. What are your thoughts on this debate? Let us know in the comments section below.