LIV Golf may just start twitching at the news that the OWGR has sanctioned the distribution of ranking points to a tour with 54-hole tournaments.

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The Gira de Golf Professional de Mexicana has existed since 2017, offering Mexican golfers the chance to progress through the ranks to the PGA Tour Latinoamerica, and has been the source of KFT players such as José de Jesús Rodríguez Martínez, five-time winner on the PGA Latinoamerica circuit and winner of the 2018 United Leasing & Finance Championship on the web.com tour (the predecessor to the KFT). It also assisted the Latino organization through the 2020 pandemic.

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After a 16-month approval process, the Official World Golf Rankings released the following positive statement:

“As such, the Gira de Golf Professional de Mexicana is in keeping with long-standing OWGR eligibility and format criteria providing inclusion for professional tours at the development level with available ranking points commensurate with the format and anticipated fields.”

OWGR chairman Peter Dawson added, “This is a significant milestone for golf and OWGR is deeply encouraged by the achievement and the continued efforts in the advancement of the sport of golf in Mexico. We look forward to watching the progress of Gira de Golf Professional de Mexicana as it continues to play a key role in the development of players from the region.”

The tour differs from the Greg Norman-led tour with its 36-hole cuts, while offering qualification via a qualifying school to encourage regional players, and culminating its season with a no-cut championship.

GDG commissioner José Miguel Bejos confirmed his joy at the news.

“We are very proud that after almost 5 years of work, the Mexican Professional Golf Tour becomes part of the OWGR,” Bejos said. “It is one of the most important achievements that Mexican professional golf has had in recent years and we will continue with the commitment to promote golf in our country.”

With two of the best-ever Mexican golfers, Abraham Ancer and Carlos Ortiz, now playing for LIV, the irony cannot be lost on Norman and, despite his organization’s “strategic alliance” with the MENA Tour, the OWGR steadfastly remain with the view that the tour does not comply with its qualifying procedure.

Still, players such as Joaquin Niemann believe the OWGR has no option but to grant ranking points, telling La Tercera:

“We already have all the criteria to have a world ranking in the LIV. If they haven’t done it, it’s because of a pure monopoly there, political issues for which they don’t take it out… But we already have all the criteria. We have the best players in the world on the Tour and, if they don’t, in the end they will look bad.” 

Norman also believes it will be impossible for the ruler of golf rankings to ignore LIV for much longer, telling reporters in November that:

“I understand they have a process. I get all that. But the OWGR was never prepared for a new entity like LIV Golf. You have to expect the unexpected sometimes. When somebody comes along with an incredible business model that is working and, as we’ve shown, you’ve got to have that flexibility and adaptability to allow a new entity coming along.”

“OWGR was never, ever ready for that type of approach.”