The controversial Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series are reportedly planning to demand world-ranking status, with the Official World Golf Ranking board set to meet ahead of the Open Championship.
LIV has been derided as an attempt at sportswashing by the Saudi state, who have an appalling human rights record. However, several of golf's biggest stars, including Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka, have been tempted to join the breakaway league by the vast amounts of money on offer.
The series has caused a major divide within the sport, with the PGA Tour suspending all players involved and LIV CEO Greg Norman getting barred from the Open's 150th anniversary celebrations, despite being a two-time winner.
Now the Guardian are reporting that LIV are set to 'demand its formal recognition in the world rankings' in a move which will only increase tensions. The report states that LIV will make a 'formal application to gain world-ranking status' on the eve of the 150th Open at St Andrew's.
At the moment, those involved in LIV events do not earn ranking points and some players are said to be concerned about it potentially affecting their ability to play in the major championships.
Martin Slumbers, the chief executive of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A) who run the Open, is set to be quizzed on the issue when he speaks to the media ahead of the championship later this week.
Initially, the DP World Tour hit the LIV rebels with a banning order, but that was overturned after Ian Poulter, Justin Harding and Adrian Otaegui successfully won a legal battle to play in the Scottish Open.
Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy hit out at the rebels for attempting to 'have their cake and eat it'. He told the BBC : "I think at this stage, if you've gone over to play on another tour then go and play on that tour.
"You've basically left all your peers behind to make more money, which is fine. But just stay over there. Don't try to come back and play over here again.
"The whole cake-and-eat-it type of attitude is what the resentment stems from within the PGA Tour and DP World Tour membership. That's the tricky part."
