The recent blow by the Official World Golf Ranking to LIV Golf has shocked the breakaway league and raised doubts about the future of 48 players while it continues the season at LIV Golf Jeddah. 

OWGR has rejected the application of LIV Golf for inclusion in the world ranking system. The decision will impact the players’ ranks and participation in various majors. But can LIV golfers still play at the Olympics?

Can LIV golfers play in the 2024 Olympics?

An open letter written by LIV golfers to the OWGR last year was awaiting whether their request for inclusion in the world ranking would be accepted. Recently, the OWGR rejected the appeal based on the 54-hole no-cut format being different from 24 eligible leagues and the exclusion of emerging talents in the league. 

The golfers in the Saudi-backed league and fans alike are now conscious of what the future holds. As the player’s performance does not add up to their ranking points, their ranks will decline no matter how well they play on LIV events. The only way to collect points is to play in four major championships, which also grants cuts to high-ranked players.

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Similarly, for a player to represent their nation at the Olympics, a golfer has to be in the Top 60 on the OWGR’s list. The last date for qualification is June 17, 2024. If the decision by OWGR is not tweaked or changed by next year, then the ranks of the players will go down each month. This will prevent athletes from participating in the Olympics. So a simple answer is: no, LIV golfers may not play at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. 

The only two players from LIV Golf under Top 60 are Cameron Smith (15) and Brooks Koepka (18). Players like Bryson DeChambeau, Talor Gooch, and Dustin Johnson still stand outside the 100 mark. 

LIV golfers are worried about the future

Cameron Smith has made clear his concern on the issue. The golfer represented Australia at the last Olympic games. Now, he worries about making it next year.

Read More: Amid Widening Rifts and Massive OWGR Failure, Does Brooks Koepka Feel Remorse Over His $100 Million LIV Decision?

Smith on Channel Nine said, “I don’t think I have looked at the rankings, but it’s something I am conscious of.” Despite being in the Top 50, he is worried about contending at the Olympics. 

Similarly, Bryson DeChambeau, in a LIV Golf press conference, addressed the issue and said, “We would love to find another way to be integrated into the major championships. We have some of the best players in the world.” 

While the OWGR’s chairman, Peter Dawson, has called the decision entirely “technical” and not “political,” time will only tell what the future holds for the LIV golfers. The declining ranking may put them out of the essential events. 

Watch this Story: ‘Best Player Performance’: Distraught LIV Golf’s Future Pushed Down the Rabbit Hole, Courtesy of OWGR’s Nasty Blow