The Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) is a system for rating the performance level of professional golfers. It was started in 1986 and is based on a players position in individual tournaments. The rankings are updated weekly and are based on a rolling 2-year period. The OWGR system assigns points to players based on their performance in eligible tournaments. The points breakdown is derived from each eligible tournaments field rating. The OWGR system is run over rolling ranking periods, and ranking points are maintained at full value for a 13-week period from the relevant ranking date.
The OWGR system is used as a criterion for entry into top-tier tournaments and majors. The rankings are produced by a company called "Official World Golf Ranking," which took over the ranking system from IMG in 2004. The company is a company limited by guarantee incorporated in the United Kingdom with its registered office at the European Tour Building at Wentworth. The OWGR system includes several tours, including the PGA Tour, European Tour, and Japan Golf Tour, among others.
The OWGR system is not the only golf ranking system ever to be created, but it has become the most influential. The seven-member governing board includes the heads of the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, PGA of America, USGA, R&A, Augusta National Golf Club, and the International Federation of PGA Tours.
In 2022, the OWGR came under heavy criticism when its managers refused to recognize fledgling LIV Golf. Limited fields and the league’s 54-hole format were the main reasons for not including its results. The OWGR has attempted to evolve and made updates last summer, but it wasn’t enough — players on both the PGA Tour and LIV Tour continue to publicly identify concerns about the OWGR.
In summary, the OWGR is a system for rating the performance level of professional golfers based on their position in individual tournaments. The rankings are updated weekly and are based on a rolling 2-year period. The OWGR system assigns points to players based on their performance in eligible tournaments. The OWGR system is used as a criterion for entry into top-tier tournaments and majors.
