Record-breaking Japanese golfer Hideki Matsuyama has agreed with fellow PGA Tour professional Rory McIlroy that LIV Golf events should only receive ranking points once they follow the 'correct procedure'.
McIlory has been against the breakaway circuit from the outset and criticised rebels who have joined LIV Golf for million of pounds in signing on fees and prize money.
The rebel circuit boasts restricting their field to 48 members who play over 54 holes with no cut. That is against Official World Golf Ranking rules for their eligible events.
"I think they should be able to (have ranking points)," said Matsuyama who is playing at this week's Zozo Championship. "However, there's a procedure they'll have to follow."
LIV Golf have applied OWGR status but their application remains pending, despite boasting some of the biggest name in golf. This has impacted on the world ranking of former world number one Dustin Johnson and reigning Open champion Cameron Smith.
The entire LIV playing roster recently wrote to OWGR chairman Peter Dawson, calling for ranking points as well as backdating to the series' very first event earlier this summer. However, Matsuyama agrees with his fellow PGA players that the rebels knew the consequences of signing up for the breakaway circuit.
Matsuyama won last year's Masters, becoming the first Japanese golfer to win a major tournament and has committed himself to the PGA Tour. He added: "I'm a member of the PGA Tour. The players who left did so because they thought it was the right thing to do. So I can't say anything about them."
OWGR require events to be a minimum of 54 holes with a cut after 36 holes with LIV Golf having a different format. The regulator also state that tours should have an average field size of 75 players, while LIV’s invitational events are limited to 48 players.
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Speaking recently McIlroy told Sky Sports : "If they meet the criteria they get world ranking points. I don't see any reason why they shouldn't, as long as they meet the criteria that is set out.
"The one thing that has been frustrating from the start of this is that they don't want to play by the rules that have been in place for so long. It can't be one set of rules for a certain amount of people and then a certain set of rules for everyone else - everyone has to abide by the same rules here."
