What was that about LIV golfers wanting to play less golf?
Paul Casey has admitted players who have joined LIV Golf will start showing up “en masse” in a bid to maintain their world rankings.
The Saudi-Arabia backed series is currently undergoing the application process to be part of the Official World Golf Rankings. However, should they not be granted accreditation – a real possibility with several PGA and DP World Tour hierarchy on the decision board – the league’s defectors risk being unable compete in the four majors, given that their World Rankings would see them slip below qualification criteria.
And Casey, one of Greg Norman’s latest recruits, says a number of LIV rebels are considering playing Asian Tour events to combat the issue and earn necessary ranking points.
“There’s talk about guys playing a couple,” the Englishman told reporters at The Open. “There’s a lot of discussion, a lot of WhatsApp chat group feeds going around. I’m not part of most of them.
“I don’t know what guys are going to do. I think there’s the option of playing some Asian Tour events. We’re going to see what happens with the DP World Tour.”
The Asian Tour, which formed a coalition with LIV Golf earlier this year, would allow defectors to compete on their circuit while offering the much-needed ranking points.
“I think the discussion was if guys turn up en masse, then it lifts the world ranking points. So if they’re going to go play an Asian Tour, they all go together,” Casey added.
As for the Ryder Cup veteran, he admits he did his “due diligence” before making the switch, and was was fully his world ranking would suffer as a result.
“I was fully aware of what might be, of the possibility of not playing majors,” he added. “I think it’s an interesting question for the younger guys. Myself, I mean, I’m hanging on in the world rankings.
“I was under no illusions that my ranking could slide and be out within however long, whatever the timeframe is. I did my due diligence, put it that way.”
Subscribe to NCG
[post_list category=58 title=””]
George Cooper
