LIV Golf has reapplied for its events to receive Official World Golf Ranking points, the chairman of the ranking’s board, Trevor Immelman, announced Friday.
“The OWGR board is committed to a thorough evaluation process of all applications, and LIV’s application will be reviewed in accordance with OWGR’s criteria to ensure fairness, integrity and consistency,” Immelman said in a statement. “We appreciate the interest of LIV Golf – and all tours – in contributing to the global landscape of men’s professional golf through OWGR. Further updates will be provided as the review progresses.”
LIV Golf first applied for ranking points in July 2022 and that bid was denied in October 2023 for a variety of reasons, including lack of access, relegation and field variance as well as concerns about the team format.
“LIV Golf is committed to working together with the Official World Golf Ranking and its board to ensure the very best players are competing in the game’s most prestigious events,” LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil said in a statement. “We are confident our application addresses the outstanding questions that exist to support a more global, all-encompassing, and accurate ranking system. We are hopeful the review and approval process can progress ahead of the 2026 major season.” READ MORE
Andrew Redington, Getty Images
Harris English’s longtime caddie, Eric Larson, was denied a visa to work in the United Kingdom due to a decades-old drug conviction, keeping him off English’s bag for last week’s Genesis Scottish Open.
Grounds for refusal of an Electronic Travel Authority visa include an applicant who has been convicted of a criminal offense in the U.K. or overseas for which they served 12 months or more in prison. Thirty years ago, Larson pleaded guilty to sending cocaine to friends in the Midwest. Though he wasn’t a user or big-time dealer, he spent 10 years and three months in prison and was released from a halfway house in June 2006, the Associated Press reported.
English employed Joe Etter as his caddie at the Scottish Open and reached out to Warren Stephens, the U.S. ambassador to the U.K., on Larson’s behalf, he said. While stuck at home, Larson has hired London-based Bates Well for legal services, and he has gone through Miami-based VSF Global to fast-track a standard six-month visa.
“I just want to get to the British Open to help Harris,” Larson said last Tuesday from his home in Florida. READ MORE
Despite ranking 174th in the European Ryder Cup standings at the start of last week, Sergio García is holding out hope that Europe’s captain, Luke Donald, might pick him for September’s matches against the United States at Bethpage Black.
“Well, my hopes are to be there,” García, Europe’s all-time Ryder Cup points leader, told Golf Digest last week at LIV Golf Andalucia. “I know that I’m part of the equation. So that’s good to know. But I also know that I need to keep improving my game and keep playing better to make sure that Luke and his vice captains have a good weight behind the decision if they want to take me. So that’s all I can do.”
García, 45, had dinner with Donald at the BMW International Open in Germany earlier this month, where the two discussed García’s Ryder Cup prospects. “He definitely … he was like, I just want you to get back to playing like you were playing before the [2025] Masters and how consistent you were. I told him that’s what I’m working on,” García said. “[I said] I’ll be ready; I’ll be there when you need me. That’s all I can do.” READ MORE
Tap-Ins
Jordan Spieth, who withdrew from the Travelers Championship last month just 12 holes into his first round citing a neck/upper back injury, is expected to return at this week’s Open Championship. READ MORE
Collin Morikawa, who recently split with caddie Joe Greiner, enlisted Englishman Billy Foster to loop for him at the Genesis Scottish Open and the Open Championship while he searches for a permanent replacement. READ MORE
Winner Chris Gotterup, Nicolai Højgaard (T4) and Matti Schmid (T17) earned entry into this week's 153rd Open at Royal Portrush as the three highest finishers in the Genesis Scottish Open not yet qualified for the Open. READ MORE
Aldrich Potgieter, Brian Campbell, Nico Echavarria, Michael Kim, Bud Cauley and Davis Thompson earned berths in this week’s Open Championship at Royal Portrush as the leading six players in the Official World Golf Ranking not otherwise exempt as of last Monday. READ MORE
Two-time champion Ernie Els withdrew from the Open Championship, the R&A announced Sunday, and was replaced by Si Woo Kim. READ MORE
Luxury auto brand Genesis has renewed its title sponsorship of the Scottish Open through 2030, the PGA Tour and DP World Tour announced Wednesday. READ MORE
The dismissal of Patrick Reed’s defamation lawsuit against a number of golf media members and outlets has been upheld in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. READ MORE
Compiled by Mike Cullity