The OWGR has accredited the Clutch Pro Golf Tour, a satellite circuit born in England in 2019 and currently branded as the Mizuno Next Gen Series due to support from the Japanese company. This tour serves as a pathway to the Challenge Tour and, along with the bolstered Tartan Pro Tour, replaced the PGA EuroPro Tour, which ceased operations in 2022.
OWGR, results
The news of accreditation by the OWGR has captured the attention of many professionals and enthusiasts alike because the satellite tour conducts its tournaments over 54 holes. This distinct format brings to mind the situation with LIV Golf, which withdrew its accreditation request due to alleged obstructionist practices by the global rankings governing body.
The official statement from the OWGR outlined the reasons for accrediting the Clutch Pro Tour, emphasizing its adherence to historical eligibility and tournament format criteria of the OWGR. However, the main difference between the Clutch Pro Tour and LIV Golf appears to be the cut after the initial 36 holes.
This decision raises questions about the consistency of the OWGR, particularly considering that there are high-profile events, such as the PGA Tour’s Signature Events, where no cut is in place. This prompts a discussion on whether the cut after 36 holes should be considered a decisive factor for OWGR accreditation.
Ultimately, the decisions made by the OWGR regarding LIV Golf seem to be undermining the credibility of the organization itself. It remains to be seen if the OWGR will take these criticisms into account and make any changes to its accreditation policies.
The Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) is a system designed to assess the performance level of professional golfers. It was introduced in 1986 and is supported by the four major championships and the six professional tours that make up the International Federation of PGA Tours, namely the PGA Tour, European Tour, Asian Tour, PGA Tour of Australasia, Japan Golf Tour, and Sunshine Tour. Points are also awarded for good final placements in the following tours: Web.com Tour, Challenge Tour, PGA Tour Canada, OneAsia Tour, Korean Tour, PGA Tour Latinoamérica, Asian Development Tour, PGA Tour China, Alps Tour, Nordic Golf League, PGA EuroPro Tour, ProGolf Tour, and MENA Golf Tour.
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