As CEO Scott O’Neil plays chess with OWGR officials, the future of golf’s most important measuring stick hangs in the balance

Picture this: Scott O’Neil, LIV Golf’s CEO, sitting across from Trevor Immelman, chair of the Official World Golf Ranking, in what might be golf’s most important backroom conversation. Two weeks ago, LIV quietly resubmitted their application for OWGR points. But here’s what makes this different – O’Neil isn’t just throwing paperwork at a wall. He’s building relationships, having “pretty good contact” with Immelman, and keeping their conversations locked tighter than a Tour pro’s yardage book.

The Format Problem

Let’s be honest about what we’re dealing with. The OWGR has legitimate concerns: 54-player fields with no cuts, shotgun starts, and that fake relegation system where Bubba Watson and Branden Grace got “relegated” only to sign right back with their teams. It looked more like golf theater than actual consequences. The OWGR is trying to compare apples to pineapples here.

O’Neil’s Different Game

Here’s where O’Neil is playing chess while Greg Norman was playing checkers. While Norman threw haymakers at the establishment, O’Neil is quietly building legitimacy. Fox Sports deal? Check. Equipment partnerships? Check. Global schedule expansion? Double check. He understands LIV doesn’t need to beat the PGA Tour – it just needs to be recognized as real professional golf.

The Uncomfortable Truth

If LIV doesn’t get OWGR points soon, the ranking system itself becomes irrelevant. When former world No. 1s like Cam Smith, Dustin Johnson, and Brooks Koepka are essentially invisible in the rankings, what does that say about the system’s credibility? The OWGR risks becoming like that friend who refuses to acknowledge your new relationship because they didn’t approve of how it started.

The Bottom Line

This isn’t just about LIV anymore. It’s about whether golf’s ranking system can evolve or become as outdated as persimmon drivers. If these behind-the-scenes talks fail, don’t be surprised if major championships create their own qualification criteria that bypass OWGR entirely. The next few months will tell us whether golf’s power brokers can find common ground, or if we’re heading toward a permanent split that benefits no one – especially not the fans.