Masters champion Jon Rahm says the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) is not “a good system” after LIV Golf withdrew its membership application.
A letter from league CEO Greg Norman informed players that it would not continue its quest for world ranking points.
“It is now clear that the best path forward for LIV as a league and for LIV golfers is not through the current ranking system,” Norman said.
The Saudi-backed league was denied OWGR accreditation in October.
Rahm, a two-time major winner and world number three, is among the players to have moved from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf.
“I’m going to go back to what I said two years ago. I didn’t think about it [OWGR] “It was a good system at the time,” said Spaniard Rahm, speaking ahead of LIV Golf Hong Kong, which begins on Friday.
“On the contrary, the more time passes, the more it turns out to be false,” added the 29-year-old.
When LIV Golf initially applied in July 2022 – a month after its inception – the OWGR raised concerns about the format of the new league.
It features the same 54 players all season playing 54-hole, shotgun-start, no-cut events.
Norman’s letter to LIV players, which was seen by BBC Sport, said: “A resolution that protects the accuracy, credibility and integrity of the OWGR rankings no longer exists.
“The OWGR has been unwilling to work productively with us.”
LIV players will only be able to improve their world ranking, which is one of the factors used to determine eligibility for major championships, through DP World Tour events, the Asian Tour or other satellite circuits.
While LIV Golf players aren’t getting any points at tour events, many big names who have left the US PGA Tour have slipped down the rankings, with Rahm being one of four LIV players currently listed in the OWGR top 50.
Fellow major champion Bryson DeChambeau said it was up to game officials to find a “collective way” to rectify the problem.
“We should focus on getting the best players into the majors,” the American said.
“All the governing bodies, everyone, comes together and sits down and thinks about this. Because we have to do this for the fans.”
LIV and PGA Tour players compete against each other in major tournaments, with many LIV players earning their spots in tournaments based on their previous achievements.
Majors can make exceptions and issue their own invitations, as was the case this year with Chilean Joaquin Niemann, who received special invitations to next month’s US Masters and the US PGA Championship in May.
“Now they gave a player a chance before you even know it, there will be a solution,” Rahm said. “I think this opens the door slightly.
“If anyone in this world doesn’t think ‘Joaco’ [Niemann] deserves to be in the top 10 or doesn’t know he’s one of the best players in the world, I don’t know which match you’re watching.”
DeChambeau said players should be invited to major tournaments based on their performance the previous year.
“They do it with [the PGA] Tour championship, right? It’s very simple,” he said.
Merger negotiations are still underway between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund, which finances LIV Golf.
