Tiger Woods vaults 430 spots, drawing scrutiny to world rankings after LIV Golf rejection

LOS ANGELES – In what is sure to further rankle LIV Golf players, Tiger Woods vaulted 430 spots in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) on Dec 4, after finishing 18th out of 20 golfers in his invitational Hero World Challenge.

The American, who was making his first start since withdrawing from the US Masters in April, had fallen to a career-low 1,328th last week.

He made his return in the Bahamas and, while the 47-year-old surprised many with his solid play, he finished ahead of only two players in the field.

That did not prevent the 15-time Major champion from climbing to 898th in the world rankings, his highest since before withdrawing from the 2022 PGA Championship.

The Hero World Challenge is an unofficial PGA Tour event.

LIV Golf had its application to earn OWGR points denied earlier in 2023. It is largely due to the fact that its events are limited to 48 players competing in a three-day shotgun start format with no cut and also includes a team aspect.

But that Woods could climb 430 spots in an unofficial event in which he finished third-last will almost certainly draw ire from those who believe LIV Golf players should be earning ranking points.

Australian golfer Cameron Smith previously slammed golf’s ranking system.

“I think it (the system) is almost obsolete now,” he said in October.

“We’ve got some guys out here who are playing some of the best golf in the world and they’re outside the top 100, 200 in the world. It’s pretty ridiculous.”

Former world No. 1 Dustin Johnson shared his sentiments, claiming that the rankings are no longer fit for purpose.

“I feel like you can’t really use the world ranking system any more,” the American said.

“Hard to use the world ranking system if you’re excluding 48 guys that are good players.

“The rankings are skewed.”

At the Hero World Challenge, Woods finished ahead of only reigning US Open champion Wyndham Clark and Will Zalatoris, who made his own return from a back injury that sidelined him for the past nine months.

Zalatoris remained at No. 33 in the world despite finishing last by nine shots.

He earned 2.1 world ranking points for his last-place finish in the Bahamas. For comparison, Englishman Laurie Canter of LIV Golf earned only a bit more – 3.6 points – for a tie for fourth at the Australian Open, sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia.

American Scottie Scheffler, who won the Hero World Challenge following runner-up finishes in 2021 and 2022, strengthened his hold on the No. 1 ranking ahead of Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy.

Spaniard Jon Rahm, who is reportedly weighing an offer of around US$600 million (S$803.1 million) to join LIV Golf, was third. REUTERS