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LIV Golf is forming a strategic alliance with the little-known MENA Tour in hopes of securing Official World Golf Rating factors for its gamers.
The MENA Tour, a feeder circuit that has staged tournaments within the Center East and North Africa, had been shuttered for greater than two years in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic earlier than staging a event in Could. Based by the Dubai-based Shaikh Maktoum Golf Basis in 2011, the MENA Tour was acknowledged by the OWGR governing board in Could 2016.
In a information launch on Wednesday, the MENA Tour mentioned the “alliance will enhance the MENA Tour’s improvement packages and instantly qualify LIV Golf for OWGR factors, beginning with the LIV Golf Thailand occasion at Stonehill this week.”
“It is a very thrilling day for the MENA Tour and our gamers,” MENA Tour commissioner David Spencer mentioned in a press release. “By this alliance, our gamers will now have enhanced taking part in alternatives and stronger pathways. That is nice information for the way forward for many younger gamers on our Tour.”
By the partnership, all LIV golfers additionally change into members of the MENA Tour, based on Spencer. MENA occasions have purses of $75,000.
“We’re taking this mutually helpful motion to assist the sport on the developmental degree and due to the significance and equity of LIV golfers qualifying for OWGR factors,” LIV Golf president and COO Atul Khosla mentioned in a press release. “We’re happy to create pathways that give extra alternatives for younger gamers, whereas additionally giving followers rankings that embody all of the world’s greatest golfers.”
LIV Golf CEO and commissioner Greg Norman has change into more and more annoyed that the OWGR board hasn’t acknowledged his startup circuit, which is being financed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Funding Fund.
LIV Golf at the moment has 12 of the highest 50 gamers in its fields, together with reigning Open Championship winner Cameron Smith, the No. 3 participant on the planet. LIV Golf opponents didn’t obtain OWGR factors in its first 5 occasions, jeopardizing their probabilities of qualifying for main championships with out beforehand earned exemptions.
In a letter despatched to LIV golfers on Aug. 17, Norman wrote that the brand new circuit “by any truthful, goal and neutral evaluation” ought to be awarded world rating factors for its occasions within the very close to future.
Within the letter, a replica of which was obtained by ESPN, Norman wrote that LIV Golf’s inclusion on the planet rating factors system is “needed for the integrity, accuracy and equity” of the rankings. LIV Golf officers submitted their utility to the OWGR in mid-July and it was mentioned by the OWGR Technical Committee in the course of the a hundred and fiftieth Open Championship at St. Andrews, based on Norman.
“With out LIV’s inclusion, the integrity and accuracy of the rankings themselves are severely compromised,” Norman wrote. “We belief the members of the Governing Board of OWGR will perceive and respect this key consideration, and that they’ll deal with this improvement with the respect it deserves and in line with their duties as administrators of the Official World Golf Rankings and the duties that attend these directorships.”
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, who has suspended gamers for competing in LIV Golf tournaments with out a conflicting-event launch, is without doubt one of the eight members of the OWGR board of governors. Different members embody DP World Tour CEO Keith Pelley, USGA CEO Mike Whan, R&A chief govt Martin Slumbers, PGA of America govt director Seth Waugh, Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership govt director Will Jones, and Keith Waters, who represents the Worldwide Federation of PGA Excursions.
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