Simone Lawson
The Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) is a system for rating the performance level of professional golfers. It was started in 1986 by the Championship Committee of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and preeminent sports agent Mark McCormack. The OWGR ranks golfers based on their performance in recognised tournaments over a two-year period. Players earn points based on their finishing positions, with the number of points awarded depending on the prestige and difficulty of the tournament. Each Strokes Gained (SG) world rating has a corresponding value of Performance Points determined by the Performance Curve. The OWGR confirms the Field Rating for an Eligible Tournament once all players have teed off.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ranking System | Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) |
| Ranking Criteria | Player's performance in recognised tournaments |
| Ranking Period | Two years (rolling) |
| Tournament Format | 72 holes or 54 holes (consisting of rounds of less than 18 holes) |
| Ranking Points | Based on finishing positions, tournament prestige, and difficulty |
| Points Decay | Points decrease over a two-year period |
| Tie-breakers | Additional holes with a minimum length of 75 meters |
| Team Events | Not eligible for inclusion |
| Individual Element | Eligible if part of an approved format |
| Strokes Gained World Rating | Based on scores in 18-hole stroke-play rounds, adjusted for difficulty |
| Performance Points | Determined by the Performance Curve |
| Ranking Points Distribution | Provided by OWGR after results data processing |
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What You'll Learn
The Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR)
Each Strokes Gained World Rating has a corresponding value of Performance Points determined by the Performance Curve. A player's Strokes Gained World Rating is based on their scores in completed 18-hole stroke-play rounds, adjusted for each round's relative difficulty. The OWGR provides a projected Ranking Points Distribution for an Eligible Tournament after receiving the Starting Field Data from the Eligible Golf Tour. Once the tournament is completed, the OWGR provides an actual or "final" Ranking Points Distribution.
The OWGR is calculated by dividing a golfer's points total by the number of events they have played, giving their average. Players are then ranked according to their average, with the highest average being ranked first. The first stage in the calculation is the ranking of each event. For most events, the ranking depends on the current world rankings of the participating golfers and the involvement of the leading golfers from the "home tour". A "world rating value" is calculated, and any golfer currently ranked in the world's top 200 is given a rating value.
The OWGR produces new rankings each week, and in 2025, 24 tours were factored into the world rankings. The OWGR is one of the qualifying criteria for entry into leading tournaments. The OWGR is separate from the FedEx Cup points system, which is specific to the PGA Tour and focuses on performance across a season.
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How OWGR rankings are calculated
The Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) is a system for rating the performance of male professional golfers. It was started in 1986 and has been the topic of many debates recently. The OWGR ranks golfers based on their performance in recognised tournaments over a two-year rolling period. Players accumulate points based on their finishing positions in sanctioned tournaments, with the number of points awarded depending on the prestige and difficulty of the tournament.
Major tournaments like the Masters or the U.S. Open offer more ranking points than smaller events because of the higher competition level. Each tour around the world has its own system for ranking players, and these points are factored into the OWGR calculation. The OWGR is a rolling two-year points system, with points decreasing over time.
To qualify for a ranking, a player must play a minimum of 40 tournaments within a two-year rolling period. Ranking points are maintained at full value for a 13-week period, after which they are reduced in equal decrements for the remaining 91 weeks of the two-year period. Each player is then ranked according to their average points during the relevant ranking period, which is determined by dividing their total points by the number of tournaments played.
The OWGR also provides a projected ranking points distribution for eligible tournaments following the submission of starting field data by the eligible golf tour. An actual or "final" ranking points distribution is provided once the results data file has been processed by the OWGR.
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Eligible tournaments
The OWGR uses a two-year rolling period to calculate rankings, taking into account a player's performance in Eligible Tournaments. These tournaments are recognised tournaments that are part of the Eligible Golf Tour's end-of-season ranking list. The Governing Board approves these tournaments, ensuring they adhere to specific formats, such as a minimum of 54 holes.
Major Championships, like the Masters and U.S. Open, are Eligible Tournaments that carry more weight in the ranking system. These tournaments offer more ranking points due to their higher competition level and the presence of top-ranked players. The OWGR system also includes the Olympic Golf Competitions and the World Cup of Golf, where players can accumulate ranking points.
While team events are generally not eligible for inclusion, if a tournament has an individual element with an approved format, that part of the tournament will be considered an Eligible Format. The OWGR provides a projected Ranking Points Distribution for Eligible Tournaments, which is finalised once the Eligible Golf Tour submits the Results Data file.
The OWGR system is dynamic, with new rankings calculated each week, and it serves as a qualifying criterion for entry into leading tournaments.
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Ranking points distribution
The Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) is a system for rating the performance level of male professional golfers based on their performance in recognised tournaments over a two-year rolling period. The OWGR is calculated using a points-based system, with players accumulating points over a two-year rolling period to determine their ranking.
Each tournament is assigned a number of points based on its classification. The number of points awarded depends on the prestige and difficulty of the tournament. For example, a major tournament like the Masters or the U.S. Open offers more ranking points than smaller events because of the higher competition level. A tournament with a stronger field of top-ranked players will also award more ranking points.
Players earn points based on their finishing positions in sanctioned tournaments. The higher the finishing position, the more points are awarded. For instance, the world number one is allocated 45 points, while those ranked between 101 and 200 are allocated one point each.
The OWGR shall provide a projected Ranking Points Distribution for an Eligible Tournament following the submission of the Starting Field Data by the Eligible Golf Tour. OWGR shall confirm the Field Rating for the Eligible Tournament once all players have teed off and any updates to the Starting Field Data have been provided by the Eligible Golf Tour and processed by OWGR.
The number of Performance Points for each player is determined by that player's Strokes Gained World Rating, which is based on a player's actual scores in Eligible Tournaments from completed rounds of 18-hole stroke play, adjusted for the relative difficulty of each round played over the relevant Ranking Period.
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History of the OWGR
The Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) is a system for rating the performance of male professional golfers. It was first introduced in 1986 by the Championship Committee of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, in collaboration with sports agent Mark McCormack.
The OWGR rankings are based on a player's performance in recognised individual tournaments over a rolling two-year period. Players accumulate points based on their finishing positions, with the number of points awarded depending on the prestige and difficulty of the tournament. Major tournaments like the Masters or the U.S. Open offer more ranking points compared to smaller events due to the higher competition level. Points gradually decrease and halve after one year, disappearing entirely after two years.
The OWGR system also takes into account the strength of the field, with tournaments featuring more top-ranked players awarding more ranking points. Each player in the OWGR has a Strokes Gained (SG) World Rating, which is based on their scores in completed 18-hole stroke-play rounds, adjusted for the relative difficulty of each round. This SG World Rating determines the number of performance points a player brings into a tournament.
The OWGR rankings are updated weekly, and they serve as a qualifying criterion for entry into leading tournaments. The OWGR system has undergone changes over the years, initially using a three-year calculation period and restricting points to integer values.
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Frequently asked questions
The OWGR is a system for rating the performance level of male professional golfers. It was started in 1986 and is based on a player's position in individual tournaments over a rolling two-year period.
Players earn points based on their finishing positions in sanctioned tournaments. The number of points awarded depends on the prestige and difficulty of the tournament. A major tournament like the Masters or the U.S. Open offers more ranking points than smaller events.
New rankings are calculated each week.
The SG World Rating is based on a player's scores in completed rounds of 18-hole stroke-play. It is adjusted for the relative difficulty of each round played. A player's SG World Rating dictates the number of performance points they bring into a tournament.
