"Laughable" - Greg Norman expresses displeasure with the world rankings, implies that LIV Golfers are struggling

LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman was not happy with the latest OWGR (Original World Golf Ranking) updates that had only a few LIV professionals in the top 50 rankings.

The latest OWGR were released on Sunday, February 18, and World No. 2 Jon Rahm was the highest-ranked golfer on the Saudi-backed circuit. The other players in the top 50 were Tyrrell Hatton (17), Brooks Koepka (29), Cameron Smith (44), and Adrian Meronk (49). Among them, Koepka and Smith weren't recent signees.

Norman, seemingly dissatisfied with how the OWGR is working currently, tweeted the TUGR, SI and Data Golf rankings, which had more LIV-associated players in the top 50 than the OWGR:

"Laughable. LIV would have 2 players in the top 50 OWGR if you exclude recent signees!"

As per TUGR (the Universal Golf Ranking), 10 LIV players are in the top 50. Sports Illustrated has nine LIV-associated players in the top 50, while Data Golf has eight in the top 50.

The LIV-sanctioned events are not given any ranking points, and the associated players are suspended from the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour. That leaves them with limited opportunities to gain points except for the majors and a few other events.

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What is the next event that LIV Golf professionals can gain OWGR points at?

LIV Golf professionals will not have any chance of improving their rankings before they play the Masters Tournament in April. The first major of the year takes place from April 11 to 14 at the Augusta National Golf Course.

However, not all the LIV-associated players will be able to compete at the Masters, as only 10 are exempt from the first major of the year. Past champions Sergio Garcia, Patrick Reed, Charl Schwartzel, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson and defending champion Jon Rahm, along with Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Smith, will play in the Masters.

Rahm, Smith, DeChambeau, Johnson, Koepka and Mickelson are the only players exempt from all four majors. Talor Gooch, who won the LIV Golf Individual Championship last year, is not exempt from any of the majors.

The LIV professionals next compete at LIV Golf Saudi Arabia at the Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City from Mar. 1 to 3. LIV has held two events this season, with Joaquin Niemann winning the LIV Golf Mayakoba, while Dustin Johnson emerged as the winner at Las Vegas.