Welcome to LIVbreathegolf where we catch the tiger by the toe but never let him go, no no.

What we’re teeing up for you today:

• OWGR’s Are Like Onions - They Have Layers

• Do Your Own Thing

• Setup a Golf Bag

• Cam off the Concrete

OWGR’s Are Like Onions - They Have Layers

Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) - Exactly What You Think

Forget Hot or Not, you want to be on this list. Well, if you’re a professional golfer you do. The OWGR is the official ranking system used to determine who the best golfers are from all over the world.

This is important because, unlike the World Series, golf actually has players from all over the world competing in major championships.

How it works is… complicated

What? Did you think you had an easy way to compare golfers all over the world competing against different people, on different courses, at different times?

No.

Don’t worry though. I’m not sophisticated, so I’m going to break it down easy for you.

Basically, to get points golfers have to play in eligible tournaments (that also means run by an eligible tour on an eligible course)

For a tournament to be eligible it has to be:

• Sanctioned by an eligible golf tour

• The tournament points have to count toward that tour’s end of season rankings

• There have to be at least 30 players in the field (what up LIV with 48!)

• The tournament format has to be approved by the governing board (more on them in a bit)

• The tournament has to be on the eligible golf tours official tournament schedule

Okay, we’re in an eligible tournament… now what?

Now the governing body looks at the field in that tournament and sums up all of their points collectively to get a field rating.

That field rating is then used to determine the amount of ranking points that will be distributed, and those get awarded after we find out who wins. Are we to the players rank yet? Almost.

To get a players rank

Officials look over a 104 week span giving more weight to the most recent 13 weeks and less weight to the trailing 91. (I’m sure there is a good reason for those numbers, but I’m not the one to tell you that) Within those 104 weeks, to get rated, a player has to play at least 40 tournaments, but not more than 52 will be used to calculate their rank.

So to finally get to the OWGR they take the total ranking points and divide that by the number of eligible tournaments they have played in (between 40 and 52). Keep in mind, this is all within their crazy 13 week algorithm too.

See, that’s not complicated at all.

So why does any of this matter?

Glad you asked! Probably the most important reason is becuase the rankings are used for things like getting into Major’s. If you’re one of the top you’re automatically in. So it’s kinda a big deal.

In addition to that it is how the golf world views you. These rankings are a big part of guy’s resumes and are a measuring stick of how they are doing in their careers.

So it’s just the golf Gods that run this thing?

Kind of. The OWGR has a board that consists of reps from the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour, the International Federation of PGA Tours, and one rep from each of the bodies that run the 4 Majors.

These guys are in charge of running the OWGR and making determinations on it’s behalf.

As well as…

Letting new tours in

Here is where this matters to LIV. Right now LIV is not an eligible tour and none of the players are eligible to earn points towards an OWGR at the moment.

Players are eligible to play in all 4 Majors in 2023, but that is if they make it in. And without earning OWGR points that make things a bit more difficult. The longer they don’t earn points, the farther down the list they will drop.

Both LIV and LIV players have been big advocates for earning OWGR points, and they want them sooner rather than later.

Some PGA Tour players have agreed that LIV players should be included on the OWGR list, but there is a process to follow which usually takes 12-18 months per golf.com.

Not to don a tinfoil hat, but it is not a secret that the PGA Tour was not thrilled with LIV or with some of their players leaving to join LIV. With so much controversy surrounding the league I can’t imagine it makes it any easier to speed through that process.

What do you think?

Reply to this email whether you think LIV golfers should be included in the Official World Golf Rankings. I’ll share the answers later this week (if there are any answers)

Oh, and if you want to read the official Official World Golf Rankings explanation check it out here. If there’s anything that helps you get through a long, confusing rules explanation it is small white font on an all black background.

Do Your Own Thing

Bryson Dechambeau doesn’t really have any plans to push the Crushers in a specific direction (other than winning maybe). Being the captain and also the youngest guy on the team his guidance was to “do your own thing” to his teammates.

Obviously it paid off in the first tournament as the Crushers took first as a team as well as Howell III (a Crusher) taking first overall.

Good on him for letting them do what works and play to their strengths. Honestly, Bryson could shoot a little better himself, but the Crushers still look like a force to be reckoned with this year.

Chart

How To Arrange a Golf Bag

Honestly, the best way is the way that makes sense to you. But there are some guides out there too.

Personally, I like my putter and my wedges (for when I miss the green) easily accessible because I am going to use them every hole.

Not depicted here is where the beer goes. That is what the biggest pockets on the bag are meant for. And whatever you do DON’T BRING A COOLER.

Breakfast Balls

Cam Smith hit a ball off the cart path to within a few feet of the pin this weekend. That had to have been hard.

Bryson Dechambeau explained how the team aspect affected his game in Mayakoba. This is going to be interesting as it plays out more.

Beers and Balls: Why don’t drink carts also sell a few other things you may need aside from 10 more beers? How about some golf balls, chapstick, sunscreen. Missed opportunity here right now.

Meme of the Day

Don’t golf alone, Share LIVbreathegolf and get more people on the course

Or copy and past this referral link: https://livbreathegolf.beehiiv.com/subscribe

For sharing you get…something???

Is my undying gratitude enough? If people actually start reading this maybe you will get a sticker or a trip to the LIV Golf finals or something… who knows. For now, just know that I love you.

How’s my swing?

Have you ever tried to critique your own swing? Most likely you were sure you had the answer until you the next hole when you’re walking around in the woods looking for your ball you sliced again. Please help me out so I can perfect my practice and start hitting ‘em long and straight.

Bogey, bogey, par, birdie, par, par, bogey, birdie, par...