Scottie Scheffler happy to support LIV push for world ranking points

Cameron Smith has put rankings ambitions behind him, but as he slipped out of the world’s top 200, he was happy with what the world No.1 had to say.

As Scottie Scheffler pondered the real meaning of his extraordinary career, the world No.1 threw his support behind a push to give LIV golfers more purpose as they seek, for a second time, world rankings points for their efforts.

Bryson DeChambeau, who has not suffered a slide like fellow LIV star Cameron Smith courtesy of a major triumph while playing in the breakaway league, also flagged potential changes that could help the second application hits its mark.

Confirmation of a renewed request from new LIV chief executive Scott O’Neil, after the previous push was abandoned by his predecessor Greg Norman, has received wide-ranging support from most players, not just LIV golfers, keen to pit the best against the best more often, as is the case this week at The Open.

Smith loses his exemption into the year’s final major, courtesy of his victory in 2022, after the 2027 Open, and with a ranking that has slipped outside the top 200 and with missed cuts at four-straight majors, he needs all the help he can get.

Cameron Smith has slipped outside the world’s top 200. Picture: Warren Little/Getty Images

Qualification avenues to the majors have been opened for LIV stars, and Aussies Marc Leishman and Lucas Herbert took advantage to earn their spot this year.

But while rankings officials are open to hearing another application, the 54-hole, three-round, invitation-based LIV tour needs change and DeChambeau said that wasn’t off the table.

“I would say that there are definitely grounds upon which we can change some things,” he said at Royal Portrush.

“Definitely relegation for sure, more pathways into LIV. I think a global tour, more association to a global tour would be great for a feeder system into LIV. Those things, I think, could help quite a bit.

“Going through the right process is important, and I think Scott and all of us are looking forward to going through that process and getting it done the right way. We’re excited for that.”

Bryson DeChambeau says LIV can change things up to help the players’ cause. Picture: Glyn Kirk / AFP

Smith was unaware of any progress, and long ago put ranking concerns behind him, although he conceded his was “not where it needs to be at the moment”.

“I’m really not sure what’s going on, to be honest. I didn’t even know the meeting was taking place, but I knew that we applied a few weeks ago and I think it’s a good thing to have people ranked,” he said.

“I think we need it. It’s obviously been a long time coming, but hopefully we can just make progress into getting that back, that ranking back to where it needs to be because it’s probably not where it needs to be at the moment.”

Scheffler, who made the startling revelations that he didn’t find golf a “fulfilling life”, but wrestles with his desire for competition and winning daily, said it was hard to know who was actually the world’s best without rankings for LIV players.

“I think having the ability to rank all the golfers in the world is really important,” he said.

Scottie Scheffler said it was hard to know who the world’s best player was without all being ranked. Picture: AP Photo/Jon Super

“When you have guys always playing a different schedule, it can be very hard to rank player versus player. That was always difficult for us, I would say, in amateur golf because you have so many different tournaments and guys aren’t playing against each other every week.

“It can be very difficult to rank who is the best player when it’s like that.

“In terms of the world ranking points, I think the more often we can get the best players in the world playing together would be better, and that would only be better for the rankings as well.”