Professional golf’s civil war just took a sharp turn that would send shockwaves across the golf community. This move would have sounded unthinkable when LIV Golf’s inception first fractured the men’s game. But now, the league stands shoulder to shoulder with the sport’s rule-makers – the R&A and the USGA.

“By implementing a comprehensive agronomic framework informed by the expertise of golf’s leading entities, we are able to elevate competitive standards year after year and ensure playing environments reflect the highest levels of professional sport,” Ross Hallett, EVP, Head of Events at LIV Golf, said when announcing the alliance.

“Our athletes are among the most competitive and knowledgeable in the game, and competing on courses prepared to exacting global standards is essential to supporting both performance evolution and sustained excellence.”

The Saudi-backed league announced on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, that it will partner with the USGA and the R&A to improve course conditions across all 14 of its events. The aim is to use this long-standing framework of these entities to make courses highly competitive.

R&A’s Sustainable Agronomy Service and the USGA’s Green Section frameworks will help LIV Golf improve the setup of its host courses. Scott O’Neil and his peers believe it is essential for the success of each event. In addition to the course setup, everything from clubhouse facilities to supporting infrastructure will get a boost.

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This raises questions around major spots and rankings.

The same bodies that run the majors and set the rules are now working with LIV. Just a month ago, the league acquired OWGR points, and now it is also working with the decision-makers in golf. And the timing couldn’t be better.

For a long time, the Saudi-backed league has stood on the reputation of the elites it acquired from the PGA Tour. This includes names like Phil Mickelson, Lee Westwood, Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, and others. However, the news came in when new recruits and unfamiliar names started to make headlines.

As the league is already two events into its 2026 campaign, two new champions have emerged.

In the season-opener LIV Golf Riyadh 2026, debutant Elvis Smylie made his mark. He finished 24-under par to edge past Jon Rahm by one stroke. And then at LIV Golf Adelaide, Anthony Kim won his first title in the league.

The PGA Tour has been following the guidance and regulations of the USGA and the R&A for years. Now, LIV Golf is joining hands with them. Amid all this chaos, one question that comes to mind is whether the Saudi-backed league has made this move to remove the asterisk attached to the OWGR points.

LIV Golf received OWGR points with an asterisk

After resubmitting its application for OWGR points, LIV Golf made many changes to its format.

It moved from the 54-hole format to the standard 72-hole format. Then, it added merit-based spots to its roster. Two spots were given to the Asian Order of Merit leaders, and three to LIV Golf Promotions event leaders.

After several months of changes and efforts, LIV Golf finally received OWGR points. However, only the top 10 golfers at an LIV event are eligible to receive them.

Scott O’Neil and LIV Golf showed disappointment in the decision.

In the official statement declaring the decision to hand LIV Golf OWGR points, OWGR chairman Trevor Immelman said, “As LIV Golf continues to evolve, OWGR will continue to evaluate LIV Golf against OWGR’s eligibility standards, which could result in an increase in points, a decrease in points, or removal from the system altogether.”

This statement from the OWGR hints that LIV Golf may seek OWGR points for all its golfers. Improving courses to comply with USGA and R&A rules will add to the league’s credibility. This, along with a few other changes, could open pathways for more OWGR points for the league.

Alignment with the game’s governing bodies could strengthen LIV Golf’s competitive standards. This may also strengthen its case for broader OWGR recognition. And that possibility brings the conversation full circle, because a league once cast as an outsider is now working alongside the United States Golf Association and The R&A in ways that force the sport to reconsider where its dividing lines truly stand.