LIV pro Carlos Ortiz and Abraham Ancer almost missed out on the opportunity to represent Mexico at the men’s Olympic golf event at the 2024 Olympics in Paris due to their decision to join LIV. This decision led to a decrease in their world ranking points, as the OWGR does not award ranking points for LIV Golf tournaments. Ancer mentioned in a press conference that he was concerned about his ranking plummeting and not being able to qualify for the Olympics, as he was ranked 357th compared to his previous 11th ranking. Ortiz also criticized the qualification system and the PGA Tour-LIV feud for keeping some of the best golfers out of the Olympics.
Ortiz believes that the situation in golf is unfair, especially when it comes to the Olympic Games. He stated that politics have influenced the selection of golfers for the Olympics, and that the qualification system needs fixing to accommodate LIV players. Ortiz suggested finding common ground between the two sides and adjusting the world ranking qualification system to include LIV players in the majors. Ancer proposed a solution where countries can select players themselves for the Olympics based on their potential to win a medal, rather than relying solely on world rankings.
Despite the absence of big LIV stars like Bryson DeChambeau, there are still several other LIV players competing at the Olympic Golf event. The men’s fight for gold began early Thursday morning at Le Golf National. Both Ortiz and Ancer expressed their happiness at being able to participate in the Olympics despite the challenges they faced with their world rankings. Ortiz highlighted the need for a fairer system that allows top players to compete in major tournaments, and urged both sides to come to a compromise for the benefit of the sport.
As the Olympics continue, the discussion around the qualification system and the inclusion of LIV players in major tournaments is likely to gain more attention. Both Ortiz and Ancer’s experiences shed light on the challenges faced by LIV players in maintaining their world rankings and securing opportunities to compete in prestigious events like the Olympics. Finding a solution that balances the interests of both the PGA Tour and LIV players will be crucial in ensuring fair competition and representation at future golf events.
