HOW THE RANKING EVOLVED

Following the early 1970’s dominance of PGA TOUR in the United States with players like Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, Johnny Miller, Tom Weiskopf, Billy Casper, Ben Crenshaw, Hubert Green and Hale Irwin along with Gary Player from South Africa one only had to look at the US PGA TOUR Money List to decide the best players in the World.

However in the late 1970’s and early to mid-1980’s many International players began to challenge that prominence.  The likes of Seve Ballesteros, Greg Norman, Bernhard Langer, Nick Price, Isao Aoki, Graham Marsh, Tommy Nakajima, Sandy Lyle and Nick Faldo were playing and winning internationally and there came a need for a Worldwide Ranking system.  The R&A were also looking to improve their exemption system for the Open Championship.

Mark McCormack was aware of a World Ranking system that Tony Greer had been working on and after extensive research and discussions with the R&A and Sony the first SONY RANKING was launched at the 1986 Masters with the R&A the sanctioning body using the World Ranking as an exemption category for the Open – now, after nearly 30 years, all the Majors, World Golf Championships and many other events use the Official World Golf Ranking as a major tool in their exemption systems.

The Governing Board and its Technical Committee have continuously monitored and refined the system over the years taking into account the ever changing structure of world golf and suggestions made from players and Tours alike.

Details of how the Ranking has evolved year by year can be found below:

OWGR Governing Board

Chairman - Peter Dawson CBE

Augusta National GC - Buzzy Johnson, Senior Director of the Masters Tournament

European Tour - Keith Pelley, Chief Executive

PGA of America - Seth Waugh, Chief Executive Officer

PGA Tour - Jay Monahan, Commissioner

The R&A - Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive

USGA - Mike Whan, Chief Executive Officer

International Federation of PGA Tours - Keith Waters

Secretary - Ben Bye

OWGR Technical Committee

Chairman - Ian Barker 

Asian Tour - Cho Minn Thant, Chief Operating Officer

Augusta National GC - Matt Williams, Director of Golf Development

European Tour - Keith Waters, Chief Operating Officer & Director of International Policy

Japan Golf Tour - Amigo Urayama, General Manager

PGA of America - Kerry Haigh, Chief Championships Officer

PGA Tour of Australasia - Nick Dastey, Tournament Director

PGA Tour - Billy Schroder, Vice President, International Relations

Sunshine Tour - Thomas Abt, Chief Operating Officer

The R&A - Professor Steve Otto, R&A Executive Director – CTO

USGA - Jeff Hall, Managing Director Rules & Open Championships

Secretary - Sasha Forster


1986

  1. The first SONY RANKING was launched at the 1986 Masters
  2. Points counting towards the system were based on a 3 year rolling system (3:2:1):
    1. First year multiplied by 3
    2. Second year multiplied by 2
    3. Third year multiplied by 1
  3. Majors were granted 100 points for 1st place
  4. All other events were put into 4 separate grades and extra bonus points were allocated based upon the number of players participating in the event from the world top 20.
  5. The ranking was calculated based upon Total Points held for each player

    1987

    1. Points counting towards the system were based on a 3 year rolling system changed to (4:2:1):
      1. First year multiplied by 4
      2. Second year multiplied by 2
      3. Third year multiplied by 1
    2. The extra bonus points based upon the number of players participating in the event from the world top 20 rose to the world top 35

    1988

    1. The extra bonus points based upon the number of players participating in the event from the world top 20 rose to the world top 50

    1989

    1. The minimum divisor of 20 events per year was introduced
    2. The calculation of the ranking changed from Total Points to Average Points held for each player
    3. The PGA Tours Players’ Championship was given “Flagship” Status with 80 first place points

    1990

    1. Once the ranking became established it was then possible to grade the tournaments based more accurately on the Strength of Field and the grading system was superseded by a new system based on the Strength field for each tournament.
    2. The calculation used to determine the Strength of Field was the Top 100 of the World Ranking.
    3. The PGA European Tour’s PGA Championship was given “Flagship” status with 64 first place points
    4. Minimum point’s levels for each tour were granted:
      1. PGA Tour and Europe – 16 first place points
      2. Australia and Japan – 12 first place points
      3. Asia and South Africa – 8 first place points

    1992

    1. The PGA Tour of Australasia and the Japan Golf Tour Opens were granted “Flagship” Status with 32 first place points
    2. Minimum Points level for each tour increased:
      1. PGA and European Tour – 20 first place points
      2. Australia and Japan – 16 first place points
      3. Asia and South Africa – 12 first place points

    1996

    1. Points counting towards the system were altered from a 3 year rolling system to a 2 year rolling system
      1. First year multiplied by 2
      2. Second year Multiplied by 1

    1997

    1. After 11 years of Sony sponsorship at a memorable meeting at Turnberry during the 1997 Troon Open Championship the four Major Championships and five professional Tours (PGA Tour, European, Australia, Japan and Southern Africa Tour) endorsed the ranking system to form the present day “Official World Golf Ranking”.
    2. Governing Board was formed
    3. Ranking points for The Asian Tour were discontinued

    1999

    1. Home rating system was introduced
    2. Minimum Points level for PGA and European Tour increased to 24 first place points
    3. The Southern African Tour’s South African Open was given “Flagship” status with 32 first place points

    2000

    1. The Structure of Ranking Points chart was revised to provide different valuation to each finishing position together with extension of points to a greater depth.
    2. The Asian Tour were reintroduced to the ranking and granted a minimum of 6 first place points
    3. Canadian, Challenge and Nationwide Tour (Web.com) were introduced into system at minimum point’s level - 6 points for 1st place.
    4. Ranking points for Limited field events were discontinued 



    2001

    1. Introduction of graduated decline system replacing the 2:1 – all points doubled in current 13 week period after which points declined in 8 equal quarter’s year intervals




    2002

    1. Home Ratings for Majors and WGC’s now based on World Top-30




    2004

    1. Following the death of Mark H McCormack the proprietary interest and management of the Ranking system was transferred from IMG to a new incorporated company owned by the Tours and Major organisations under the Chairmanship of Sir Michael Bonallack
    2. New OWGR Company formed following acquisition from IMG
    3. Limited field events were reintroduced into Ranking system provided the event is sanctioned by a Tour with official money and all players are “qualifiers” with no wild cards.




    2005

    1. Strength of field calculation was raised from Top-100 to Top-200 World Ranked Players
    2. Asian Tour given “Flagship” status (20 points for 1st place)





    2006

    1. Nationwide Tour given “Flagship” event (20 points for 1st place)
    2. Introduction of Capping of points in Limited field events to 2.40 maximum points for last place
    3. Increase in minimum points for Challenge Tour (to 12 points for 1st place) and Asian and Nationwide Tours (to 14 points for 1st place).





    2007

    1. Graduated decline system modified to create emphasis to current performance all points doubled and maintained for 13 weeks, then reduced in 92 equal weekly decrements.
    2. Increase in minimum points for Sunshine Tour (to 14 points for 1st place).

    2009

    1. Chevron World Challenge event given OWGR status under stipulation of field content.
    2. OneAsia events included at minimum points level (6 points for 1st place)

    2010

    1. Introduction of Maximum Divisor system (60) and lowered every 6 months until it reached the current maximum divisor of 52.
    2. Challenge Tour awarded a “Flagship Tournament” - 16 first place points

    2011

    1. Korean Golf Tour introduced at minimum points level - 6 first place points.
    2. Tour de las Americas introduced at minimum points level - 6 points first place points.

    2012

    1. Sunshine Tour 54–hole events introduced at 4 first place points 
    2. PGA Tour of Australasia Tier 2 tournaments introduced at 6 first place points (Tier 1 remains at 16 first place points).
    3. Limited field events no longer receive Home Rating values reducing their Ranking Points.

    2013

    1. Asian Development Tour introduced at minimum points levels - 4 first place points points for 54-hole tournaments and 6 first place points for 72 hole tournaments.
    2. Tour de las Americas and Canadian Tour remain in system but now named PGA TOUR Latinoamerica and PGA Tour Canada.
    3. The World Cup became eligible for OWGR points as it became primarily an individual competition. Its qualifying criteria is now based on that which will be used when Golf makes its return to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
    4. Web.com minimum ranking points for its Final Series Tournaments, increased increased from 14 to 16 first place points.

    2014

    1. China Tour-PGA TOUR China Series introduced at minimum points level 6 first place points.
    2. Additional ranking point categories added to the lower end of the current ranking points structure (effective 1st September 2014)
    3. Challenge Tour minimum ranking points for the Kazakhstan Open and its Final Series Tournaments, increased by one point (12 to 13 first place points).
    4. Challenge Tour Minimum ranking points for the Challenge Tour Grand Final increased by one point (16 to 17 first place points).

    2015

    1. Alps Tour Golf, EuroPro, Nordic Golf League and ProGolf Tours introduced at minimum points levels -  4 first place points for 54 hole tournaments and 6 first place points for 72 hole tournaments. Inclusion commenced OWGR Week 30 – Week ending Sunday 26th July 2015.

    2016

    1. Korean Golf Tour minimum ranking points increased from 6 to 9 First Place Points effective OWGR Week 17 – the week ending April 24th 2016.
    2. MENA Golf Tour introduced at minimum points levels -  3 first place points for 54 hole tournaments and 5 first place points for 72 hole tournaments. Inclusion commenced OWGR Week 17 - week ending April 24th 2016.
    3. Following the announcement that Sir Michael Bonallack OBE would be stepping down as Chairman, the Governing Board appointed Peter Dawson OBE.
    4. The Sunshine Tour’s Alfred Dunhill Championship acquired OWGR Flagship Tournament status in place of the South African Open.



    2017

    1. The Asian Tour’s Indonesian Masters acquired OWGR Flagship Tournament status in place of the Thailand Golf Championship, effective immediately.
    2. Ranking points for the China Tour-PGATOUR China Series were discontinued

    2018

    1. BIG Easy Tour introduced at minimum points levels of 5 first place points for 72-hole tournaments and 3 first place points for 54-hole tournaments, effective OWGR Week 1 - week ending January 7th, 2018.
    2. China Tour introduced at minimum points levels of 6 first place points for 72-hole tournaments and 4 first place points for 54-hole tournaments, effective OWGR Week 1 - week ending January 7th, 2018.
    3. PGA TOUR Series China introduced at minimum points levels of 6 first place points for 72-hole tournaments and 4 first place points for 54-hole tournaments, effective OWGR Week 1 - week ending January 7th, 2018.
    4. The Sunshine Tour’s South African Open acquired OWGR Flagship Tournament status in place of the Alfred Dunhill Championship, effective immediately.
    5. Ranking points for OneAsia were discontinued


    2019

    1. All Thailand Golf Tour introduced at minimum points levels of 5 first place points for 72-hole tournaments, effective OWGR Week 1 - week ending January 6th, 2019.
    2. Japan Abema TV Tour introduced at minimum points levels of 6 first place points for 72-hole tournaments and 4 first place points for 54-hole tournaments, effective OWGR Week 1 - week ending January 6th, 2019.
    3. Professional Golf Tour of India introduced at minimum points levels of 5 first place points for 72-hole tournaments, effective OWGR Week 1 - week ending January 6th, 2019.]
    4. The ALPS Tour Saint-Malo Golf Mixed Open men's individual results approved for inclusion in the Ranking.  
    5. The PGA Tour - TOUR Championship approved for inclusion in the Ranking with points allocated based upon the 72 hole scores.

    2020

    1. The Sunshine Tour’s Alfred Dunhill Championship acquired OWGR Flagship Tournament status in place of the South African Open.
    2. The Ranking was frozen at week 11, week ending 15th March 2020 due to Coronavirus COVID-19.
    3. The Ranking resumed on week 24, week ending 14th June 2020. The ranking period will stretch over 116 actual weeks, making it 104 weeks of play (as normal) plus the 12 weeks during which there was no play. The output will be as if the 12 weeks of the freeze never happened.


    Resumption of play

    Week 24 - PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour.

    Week 27 - KPGA Korean Golf Tour and Nordic Golf League.

    Week 28 - All Thailand Golf Tour, Challenge and European Tour.

    Week 31 - ProGolf Tour.

    Week 32 - PGA Tour International Tours - Canada, China and LatinoAmerica resumed with the LOCALiQ Series.

    Week 33 - Alps Tour Golf and Sunshine Tour.

    Week 36 - Japan Golf Tour.

    Week 38 - Abema TV Tour.

    Week 39 - PGA Tour of Australasia.

    Week 43 - Big Easy Tour

    Week 45 - China Tour and Professional Golf Tour of India