LIV Golf players moving up the Official World Golf Rankings

This season, LIV Golf players will receive Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) for the first time in the league’s history. Although points are only awarded to the top 10 finishers (and ties) each week, the allotment to those players will have a notable impact on the world rankings. 

While there are many ways to qualify for the major championships, a strong ranking in the OWGR is one of the most surefire ways for a player to ensure they can compete in the four most important tournaments of the year. 

The top 50 in the OWGR the week prior to the 2026 Masters (March 30) will earn a spot into The Masters. The top 60 in the OWGR as of May 18th will get into the U.S. Open and the top 50 as of May 25 will get into The Open Championship. Although the OWGR isn’t an official exemption into the PGA Championship, the top 100 of the OWGR typically receive an invite. 

Enter Elvis Smylie, the rising Ripper GC who just won ROSHN Group LIV Golf Riyadh in his LIV Golf debut. The rookie displayed the poise of a veteran in holding off a hard-charging Jon Rahm to earn the win. Not only did the win put him in first place in the LIV Golf standings and on the fast track to a spot in the Lock Zone to maintain his place in the league for 2027, but it also gave him some valuable OWGR points.

With the win, Smylie climbed from 133rd in the rankings to 77th. With plenty of opportunities to earn points between now and March 30th, the 23-year-old now has his sights set on a Masters debut.

"It's a by-product of the great work I'm doing with my team and the good golf that I'm playing," he said after the final round at LIV Golf Riyadh. "If I continue to do that, then all that stuff will take care of itself. But it's definitely motivating for me to try to get into the Masters."

Rahm, the Legion XIII captain, who is already in the field for all four major championships due to past major wins and recent strong major performances, also made a notable move up the rankings with his second-place finish, climbing from 93rd to 67th. 

Other notable movers after Riyadh: Sebastian Munoz jumped 201 spots (767th to 566th), Abraham Ancer climbed 167 spots (616th to 449th), and Thomas Pieters rose 145 spots (564th to 419th). 

With OWGR points finally on the line for deserving LIV Golf players, the door to the majors has cracked open wider than ever—and Smylie's breakthrough victory is the perfect proof that strong play in the league can now lead straight to Augusta National Golf Club and beyond.