Taylor Gooch, Cam Smith, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau are obviously four of the world’s best golfers. But where they rank in the world is up for debate because … well, there are a few reasons. Debate Point One: LIV golfers no longer receive world-ranking points because they play on a tour, the Saudi Arabian-based LIV Tour, that does not qualify for such points. Why not? Because the people who conduct and control the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) system say that LIV tournaments do not follow the OWGR rules of qualification. Such as LIV’s 54-hole, no-cut tournaments.

Debate Point Two: The golf establishment despises, no … a better word would be ‘hates,’ LIV. The golf establishment hates the idea that some of the world’s best, along with many run-of-the-mill golfers, were presented with gazillion-dollar cheques to join LIV for the supposed betterment of golf globally. LIV’s efforts to have its golfers receive world-ranking points took another recent hit when the OWGR board (comprised of representatives of the golf establishment which, remember, despises LIV) again rejected an application to have its players receive world-ranking points. These points are valuable because in most cases, they help to determine who gets into the four major championships in golf — the Masters, U.S. Open, the Open Championship, and the PGA. Some LIV players have pre-qualified for some of those events, but the vast majority depend on their status on the world-ranking list to make the field.

 Gooch is one example. He led the LIV Tour in money earnings in 2023, yet is currently ineligible to play in the majors because his world-ranking position has fallen to 201 from 40 at the end of the 2021 season. But what does it mean to lead the LIV Tour in money? How does one compare Gooch playing against only 47 others, probably 25 of whom would struggle to make ends meet on the PGA Tour, while World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and the likes of Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Colin Morikawa routinely take on fields of 155 others, all of them with proven credentials. How does a Gooch LIV victory over 10 or 12 great players compare to a victory on the PGA Tour? Might it translate to a top 10? A 21st-place tie? It’s impossible to tell. Golf fans know from past performance that Koepka, Gooch, Smith, etc., are (or have been) great players but there’s no way to compare them to all golfers in the world unless a comparable system is established. Perhaps the OWGR could allow LIV tournaments to offer a lower number of world-ranking points due to strength of field. For example, winning two LIV tournaments might be equal, when considering strength of field, to, say, a couple of seventhplace finishes on the PGA Tour, and points awarded accordingly. That way, the world can see how Gooch, Koepka, etc., compare to their golf rivals around the world. Otherwise, LIV golfers are simply barnstormers, collecting only money, not honour or lasting legacy.

• NY Post columnist Phil Mushnick, who revels in sarcasm, said he doesn’t mind listening to football analyst Tony Romo, who pulls down $18 million a year from CBS, “but he’s not worth a dime over $17 million.”

• Super 70s Sports, on X: “Nellie Fox struck out 216 times over 19 major league seasons from 1947 to 1965, a span of 10,351 plate appearances. Kyle Schwarber (of the Phillies) struck out 215 times this year.”

• Oilers TV host Gene Principe of Sportsnet, showing off some food fare from Nashville that included one of 11 types of hot dogs and having the meat slip off his plate onto the floor. “Oh, I’m a loser. Not a wiener. But to be frank, they’re pretty good.”

• Football columnist Peter King reports that Vancouver singer Michael Bublé has an unusual name for his fantasy football league team: “The Vancouver Cannots.”

• Astros’ fan David, on X, reacting to the belief that Sen. Ted Cruz’s attendance at Houston games is a curse to the Astros: “Hope that Bryan Abreu comes in and intentionally throws at Ted Cruz.”

• Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg Free Press, on accompanying the Jets on their first major road trip of the season: “The first two stops happen to be Las Vegas and then Arizona — which not only warms my heart, but all other body parts as well.”

• Bob Molinaro of pilotonline. com. (Hampton, Va.): “Going into Sunday’s game vs. the Commanders, the Eagles should be a little worried that Jalen hurts.”

• Steve Simmons of SunMedia, on the gambling-related suspension to Shane Pinto: “The grand contradiction of the Pinto suspension: Last season he wore a Bet99 decal on his Ottawa Senators helmet. You can promote gambling in the NHL, you just can’t do it.”

• Greg Cote of the Miami Herald, on Coyotes’ Travis Dermott defying an NHL directive to not use pride tape on sticks: “May other, bigger stars on skates be brave enough to follow suit.”

• Headline at the onion.com: “Victor Wembanyama Admits He’s A Little Overwhelmed By Speed, Intensity Of NBA Groupies”

Care to comment? Email brucepenton2003@yahoo.ca

-Bruce Penton