Lee Westwood Slams OWGR 'Mockery' After 3,759-Spot Leap at Open Championship

Lee Westwood, the seasoned golfer from the LIV Golf tour, has just rocketed up an astonishing 3,759 spots to No. 930 on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) after a tied 34th finish at The Open Championship at Royal Portrush. While thrilled with his performance, Westwood didn’t hold back his frustration with the OWGR system, calling it a "mockery" due to its exclusion of LIV Golf events from earning ranking points.

Speaking at LIV Golf’s UK event, Westwood pointed out the absurdity of a system where he’s now ranked ahead of his own son, Sam, who languishes at 2,759th on a mini-tour. For Westwood, this is just further proof that the OWGR fails to reflect true talent and performance without recognizing LIV Golf contributions. He’s not alone in this critique—many LIV stars, including former world No. 1 Dustin Johnson, now sitting at 571st, have seen their rankings plummet since joining the league, despite strong showings like Johnson’s tied 23rd at The Open.

Only a handful of LIV players, such as Bryson DeChambeau (16th) and Tyrrell Hatton (21st), crack the OWGR top 50. Others, like Jon Rahm and Patrick Reed, remain outside this elite group despite consistent play. The core issue? LIV Golf’s application for OWGR accreditation, first denied in 2022, is still under review, leaving players dependent on major championships or international events to boost their standings.

Westwood emphasized the broader implications, arguing that the best players deserve to compete in major championships without being sidelined by a flawed ranking system. Hatton echoed this sentiment, advocating for a clearer pathway for LIV golfers to qualify for majors. As the debate rages on, it’s clear this issue strikes at the heart of fairness in professional golf.