How far have the LIV golfers fallen in the world rankings?

Matt Chivers keeps you up to speed with the defectors’ progress in the OWGR now that LIV has been granted ranking points

Jon Rahm at a LIV Golf event | Source: LIV Golf

With the LIV Golf world golf rankings points debacle being a large talking point from the breakaway league, we track just how far each defector has fallen in the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR).

LIV Golf world rankings

While the list of players defecting to LIV Golf has produced an endless amount of controversy in the last four years, one of the biggest issues facing the league’s rebels is their plummeting positions in the OWGR.

The top 50 or so players in the world can reap many benefits, including exemptions to major championships. Players must receive OWGR points with the majors at the heart of the sport.

‘Is there LIV Golf world rankings peace yet?’ I hear you ask.

The Greg Norman-led series did not initially receive OWGR accreditation, meaning players were unable to collect world ranking points for playing in the LIV Golf events.

The likes of Cameron Smith and Jon Rahm, number two and three in the world when they joined LIV, have both plummeted in the rankings, alongside many of their compatriots.

On Tuesday, October 10 2024, the OWGR announced that LIV Golf’s application to gain world ranking legitimacy had been rejected.

The OWGR board detailed the modifications that LIV Golf should make to have a chance of a successful re-application.

However, on February 3, 2026, the OWGR board announced that LIV would receive points – a significant milestone in the league’s short history. The top finishers in each individual leaderboard can now earn points and climb the rankings.

So, which players have played well enough since to rise in the OWGR? Are some stars still plummeting? Let’s take a look…

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LIV Golf rankings (As of June 29)

Player	Pre-LIV ranking	Current ranking	Difference
Cameron Smith	2	138	-136
Jon Rahm	3	11	-8
Dustin Johnson	13	211	-198
Joaquin Niemann	19	47	-28
Louis Oosthuizen	20	411	-391
Abraham Ancer	20	207	-187
Paul Casey	27	978	-951
Adrian Meronk	39	792	-753
Lucas Herbert	67	93	-26
Tyrrell Hatton	16	21	-5
Bryson DeChambeau	29	35	-6
Jason Kokrak	32	623	-591
Talor Gooch	35	352	-317
Harold Varner III	42	501	-459
Sergio Garcia	54	169	-115
Cameron Tringale	55	626	-571
Marc Leishman	63	220	-157
Richard Bland	66	631	-565
Graeme McDowell	374	976	-602
Phil Mickelson	71	1621	-1550
Sam Horsfield	72	1325	-1253
Lee Westwood	74	509	-435
Matthew Wolff	77	467	-390
Bubba Watson	86	405	-319
Ian Poulter	89	5089	-5000
Anirban Lahiri	91	577	-486
Brendan Steele	122	672	-550
Branden Grace	118	232	-114
Thomas Pieters	40	275	-235
Carlos Ortiz	119	168	-49
Charl Schwartzel	120	592	-472
Danny Lee	267	2215	-1958
Martin Kaymer	210	755	-545
Peter Uihlein	311	184	+127
Sebastian Munoz	93	542	-449
Dean Burmester	83	183	-100
David Puig	1835	64	+1771
Tom McKibbin	106	136	-30
Thomas Detry	62	74	-12
Victor Perez	149	198	-49
Ben An	111	183	-72
Elvis Smylie	134	123	+11
Anthony Kim	Unranked	197	–

**Bryson DeChambeau at LIV Golf UK | Source: Chris Trotman/LIV Golf**

As of now, only three LIV golfers have gained positions in the world rankings since defecting from the PGA Tour, Elvis Smylie, David Puig and Peter Uhlein. Smylie won the league’s debut event in Riyadh, while Uhlein made it trough final qualifying for the 154th Open Championship at Royal Portrush

Ian Poulter remains the player to have lost the most positions since joining LIV Golf. Despite an impressive debut at the US Senior Open, where he finished fourth, the Ryder Cup stalwart has lost 5000 world ranking positions since his LIV debut in 2022.

Despite rising in the OWGR since LIV Golf was granted ranking points for its events in February, Jon Rahm, the league’s highest ranked golfer, has yet to re-enter the world’s top-10 as he currently sits in 11th position.

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About the author

Matt Chivers

Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.

Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.

Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.

Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as the Masters, The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spoken to many of the biggest names in the sport.

Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.

What’s in Matt’s bag: Cleveland HiBore XL Driver driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, Benross BR-Pro irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.

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