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NBC Sports
15-07-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm say LIV's competition 'sufficient' for world-ranking points
Jon Rahm shares why he's "always confident" in his game ahead of The Open Championship, before Live From examines how he is rounding into form in recent majors and how his career has evolved since his move to LIV. PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland – Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm are supporting LIV's effort to reapply for world-ranking points, citing to the quality of the league's players and its 'sufficient competition.' Official World Golf Ranking chairman Trevor Immelman released a statement last week that the board received LIV's application on June 30 and that it'll be reviewed 'in accordance with OWGR's criteria to ensure fairness, integrity and consistency.' The OWGR has its annual board meeting this week at The Open, though it's unlikely any decision on LIV's status would be determined at that time. LIV's lack of world-ranking points has been a contentious issue for years. Past leadership once promised players that they'd receive points upon the launch of the league, they tried to form an alliance with the little-known MENA Tour and, after it was initially rejected in 2023, LIV formally withdrew its application last spring. The OWGR first denied the application because it said it couldn't fairly compare LIV's team-centric competition with the other sanctioned tours. It also had concerns about the league – which has since expanded to 13 teams and 54 players – being viewed as a closed shop with little promotion and relegation. LIV has a 'drop zone' that makes players vulnerable, but they can also be re-signed through other means. LIV started a promotions event that offered three spots in the league at the end of 2023, but that has since been reduced to just one. The leader of the Asian Tour's International Series also can join the league at year's end, provided he is not already a member. Asked Tuesday on what basis the OWGR could reach a different conclusion this time, DeChambeau said: 'I don't know fully. I would say that there are definitely grounds upon which we can change some things. Definitely relegation for sure, more pathways into LIV. More association to a global tour would be great for a feeder system into LIV. Those things I think could help quite a bit, albeit I don't know the details.' DeChambeau said LIV has 'some pretty good players' and that he's excited for new CEO Scott O'Neil 'going through that process and getting it done the right way.' Last week at LIV's event at Valderrama, Rahm said that LIV has a 'sufficient level of competition' to be fairly ranked. 'What you've seen this week is a good level of golf. It deserves points. How many? I don't know,' Rahm told reporters in Spain. 'The excuse or argument that many use is that this is an exhibition. To me, that's false. Whether you like it or not, whether it has a cut or not, whether it has three or four rounds or not, it's good competition. And it deserves world-ranking points. 'I hope it happens. I hope it doesn't take too long. Because I think there are good players. There are good young players who deserve the opportunity to qualify for the majors. And let's hope it's the beginning of more LIV players qualifying for the majors directly based on their performance on LIV in the future.' The major championships still rely heavily on the OWGR to fill out its fields. This year, for the first time, the USGA and R&A each carved out a limited exemption for the top-performing LIV player this season not already eligible. Sergio Garcia received that spot this year. There are 19 players representing LIV at Royal Portrush, the most of any major this year. Some of those players, including 52-year-old Lee Westwood, advanced through 36-hole final qualifying to earn their spot in the field.
The Herald Scotland
09-07-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Robert MacIntyre reflects on pro jounrey at Scottish Open
It was indeed a 78. In his first start in the paid ranks at the Jordan Ayla Golf Championship on the MENA Tour in 2017, MacIntyre, then ranked 1936th in the world, didn't just have his back against the wall, he was almost embedded in the pointing. After that inauspicious opening, the subsequent salvage operation just about earned him a chapter in the Book of Argyll Shipwrecks. MacIntyre bounced back in that 54-hole event and eventually finished tied third after closing with a course-record 64 before riding the wave to Kuwait and winning in just his second outing. The rest is history. Here at a sun-soaked Renaissance, MacIntyre is the world No 14 and defending the Genesis Scottish Open title. The boy done good, as they say. 'I was originally going out to the MENA Tour as an amateur,' recalled the 28-year-old of his initial plans for that eye-opening expedition to the Middle East. 'But I phoned up Stoddy (Iain Stoddart, his manager) and said, 'what's the point going out here and not making any money?' We decided to turn pro. 'I was really, really nervous. It was a different environment but it was another small step in my career. It is surreal to know the path that I've gone on and the results that I've had.' Turning pro was another of those big decisions that MacIntyre is not afraid to make. A couple of years earlier, he quit a scholarship at a US college as he felt it would be better to continue his development on home soil. 'I'm someone who is not scared to take risks,' added the Ryder Cup player, who came close to knocking off a maiden major title in June's US Open. 'I mean I make rash decisions on a golf course when I lose my temper and stuff. And I have made one rash decision in the last four or five years. 'That was when I was changing coach. I was working with Simon Shanks and I remember him saying, 'I think you're firing the wrong man'. "I phoned him two weeks later with my tail between my legs saying, "Simon, you're right. Can I come back?" And here we are still working together.' After a hectic run of events in the USA, MacIntyre has been enjoying the auld haunts of home. He limbered up for this week's contest with a round at Machrihanish to get himself tuned in again to the nuances of the links game. The Oban man may be a global figure, but he probably still plays second fiddle to the great Belle Robertson in the parishes of Argyll & Bute. 'She's a legend,' said MacIntyre with a beam of reverence. 'She still comes out and sees me when we're playing Machrihanish.' The trip down to Kintyre served a valuable purpose. 'Last year, before the Scottish Open, I went to see Troon and it was amazing how much the golf ball was moving in a 20-mile-an-hour wind,' added MacIntyre, who helped open the Scott Stewart Stand at the Renaissance in memory of the late MND sufferer. 'That's the reason I went to Machrihanish. I would hit the same shot that I normally hit and just watch how much the thing is going to move. 'It was just to get that feel, that sea air, the heavy wind and getting your eye seeing what you used to see. When I'm playing in America, I hit the ball up there, land it, normally on the number, and it stops. It's just a completely different style of golf.' MacIntyre will be hoping to turn on the style again over the next few days. The former Scottish Amateur champion is in a marquee group with the world No 1, Scottie Scheffler, and Adam Scott, the man he pipped to the title with his thrilling finish 12 months ago. Serving up a double Scotch and successfully defending the crown would certainly lead to a few glasses being raised. 'It would be unbelievable,' said MacIntyre of the prospect of going back-to-back. 'I want to keep this trophy every year until I stop playing. It's the Scottish Open. It's my flagship event after the majors. I want to win it. I hope if I don't win it, then a Scottish player wins it. It's just a special, special golf tournament with an unbelievable field.' MacIntyre is one of the star attractions in this shimmering line-up. He may not have thought that after starting his professional career with a 78. It's been quite a journey.
The National
09-07-2025
- Sport
- The National
Robert MacIntyre reflects on pro jounrey at Scottish Open
'I think it was a 78,' said MacIntyre with a reflective smile. Or was it a grimace? It was indeed a 78. In his first start in the paid ranks at the Jordan Ayla Golf Championship on the MENA Tour in 2017, MacIntyre, then ranked 1936th in the world, didn't just have his back against the wall, he was almost embedded in the pointing. After that inauspicious opening, the subsequent salvage operation just about earned him a chapter in the Book of Argyll Shipwrecks. MacIntyre bounced back in that 54-hole event and eventually finished tied third after closing with a course-record 64 before riding the wave to Kuwait and winning in just his second outing. The rest is history. Here at a sun-soaked Renaissance, MacIntyre is the world No 14 and defending the Genesis Scottish Open title. The boy done good, as they say. 'I was originally going out to the MENA Tour as an amateur,' recalled the 28-year-old of his initial plans for that eye-opening expedition to the Middle East. 'But I phoned up Stoddy (Iain Stoddart, his manager) and said, 'what's the point going out here and not making any money?' We decided to turn pro. 'I was really, really nervous. It was a different environment but it was another small step in my career. It is surreal to know the path that I've gone on and the results that I've had.' Turning pro was another of those big decisions that MacIntyre is not afraid to make. A couple of years earlier, he quit a scholarship at a US college as he felt it would be better to continue his development on home soil. 'I'm someone who is not scared to take risks,' added the Ryder Cup player, who came close to knocking off a maiden major title in June's US Open. 'I mean I make rash decisions on a golf course when I lose my temper and stuff. And I have made one rash decision in the last four or five years. 'That was when I was changing coach. I was working with Simon Shanks and I remember him saying, 'I think you're firing the wrong man'. "I phoned him two weeks later with my tail between my legs saying, "Simon, you're right. Can I come back?" And here we are still working together.' After a hectic run of events in the USA, MacIntyre has been enjoying the auld haunts of home. He limbered up for this week's contest with a round at Machrihanish to get himself tuned in again to the nuances of the links game. The Oban man may be a global figure, but he probably still plays second fiddle to the great Belle Robertson in the parishes of Argyll & Bute. 'She's a legend,' said MacIntyre with a beam of reverence. 'She still comes out and sees me when we're playing Machrihanish.' The trip down to Kintyre served a valuable purpose. 'Last year, before the Scottish Open, I went to see Troon and it was amazing how much the golf ball was moving in a 20-mile-an-hour wind,' added MacIntyre, who helped open the Scott Stewart Stand at the Renaissance in memory of the late MND sufferer. 'That's the reason I went to Machrihanish. I would hit the same shot that I normally hit and just watch how much the thing is going to move. 'It was just to get that feel, that sea air, the heavy wind and getting your eye seeing what you used to see. When I'm playing in America, I hit the ball up there, land it, normally on the number, and it stops. It's just a completely different style of golf.' MacIntyre will be hoping to turn on the style again over the next few days. The former Scottish Amateur champion is in a marquee group with the world No 1, Scottie Scheffler, and Adam Scott, the man he pipped to the title with his thrilling finish 12 months ago. Serving up a double Scotch and successfully defending the crown would certainly lead to a few glasses being raised. 'It would be unbelievable,' said MacIntyre of the prospect of going back-to-back. 'I want to keep this trophy every year until I stop playing. It's the Scottish Open. It's my flagship event after the majors. I want to win it. I hope if I don't win it, then a Scottish player wins it. It's just a special, special golf tournament with an unbelievable field.' MacIntyre is one of the star attractions in this shimmering line-up. He may not have thought that after starting his professional career with a 78. It's been quite a journey.
