Trevor Immelman wears many hats. His main job is as CBS’s lead golf analyst, but he’s also chairman of the Official World Golf Rankings, which puts him in an important position in the fractured world of men’s professional golf.
As chairman, Immelman is working closely with LIV Golf and CEO Scott O’Neil as the breakaway league seeks OWGR accreditation. Currently, players in the Saudi-backed league do not receive points for LIV events, but this may change in the coming months as LIV changes things to conform to OWGR standards. Immelman spoke to reporters Friday during the PNC Championship pro-am and noted that LIV could be accredited by the OWGR by the time the league’s next season begins in February.
“I think there’s a chance,” Immelman said. via Sports Illustrated. “We’ve been hard at work. I’m in constant communication with my board, who are pretty busy people, as is Scott, and I said no decision has been made yet.”
LIV first submitted a ranking points proposal in July 2022. The OWGR board denied that request in October 2023. OWGR board chairman Peter Dawson said at the time that the decision to deny LIV’s request was “not political.”
“It’s purely technical. The LIV players are apparently good enough to rank,” Dawson said at the time.
In March 2024, LIV’s then-CEO Greg Norman officially stepped down league application for points. But O’Neil and LIV submitted a new application on June 30and Immelman and the OWGR board have reviewed it. LIV has been in communication with Immelman about picking up points as the start of his fifth season nears, and the breakaway league has made changes to try to increase its chances of earning OWGR points. LIV added a new qualifying route changing its Q-School and announced last month that it would be going from 54 holes to 72 holes in 2026. While many saw the format change as a way to curry favor with the OWGR, Immelman noted that the number of holes was not a sticking point in the eyes of the OWGR.
“I’m not exactly sure the amount of holes they’ve played has ever been a problem,” Immelman said, via Sports Illustrated. “When you look at the OWGR and how it’s made up of 25 qualifying tournaments around the world, thousands of golfers who are ranked around the world, it’s about meritocracy. That’s one of the beauties of our sport and the beauty of the professional game is earning your way into a tournament. Understanding their league from that perspective: meritocracy, promotion and relegation and the self-selection aspect of how their league is made up.”
Promotion and relegation have always been the biggest concern regarding OWGR. With only two spots available through the Asian International Tour Series and two during the promotions event, the closed-shop nature of LIV has been the biggest obstacle to OWGR spots, which provide pathways to major championships.
Immelman said O’Neil and LIV have been working to “evolve” their league since resubmitting their app, and that further changes could be on the way, with field sizes potentially increasing.
“They’re going to grow their pitch a little bit, it seems from what I’m told, and maybe grow even more in the years to come,” Immelman said. via Golf Channel. “It’s a very collaborative process right now between Scott and I and our board is trying to figure it out.”
Immelman is the non-voting chairman of a board made up of the heads of the four major championships, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, DP World Tour CEO Guy Kinnings and Nick Dastey, director of the Australasia Tour. Immelman told reporters that the vote to approve LIV’s bid does not have to be unanimous. Monahan and Kinnings have not recused themselves from voting on LIV’s application, unlike in 2023 when Monahan and then-DP World Tour CEO Keith Pelley recused themselves.
“I see myself as more of a watchdog in that role, gathering information, sharing that information with the board and then they make their decision,” Immelman said. “I’ve been working extremely hard – and you can ask Scott this question, as he has – to try to find a solution to this.”
LIV Golf will begin its season February 4-7 in Riyadh.
“>
