The Governing Board for the Official World Golf Ranking, represented by the six professional Tours that make up the International Federation of PGA Tours and the four Major Championships, the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, the United States Golf Association, the PGA of America and the Augusta National Golf Club, have approved the following adjustments to the Official World Golf Ranking system from January 1 2001:
1.Last year the Board approved a measure stipulating that the minimum points levels and "Home Tour" rating for events sanctioned by more than one Tour would be determined by using the historic host Tour as the "Home Tour".The Board have proposed that whilst retaining the use of the host Tour as the "Home Tour", the minimum points levels should now be determined by using the "Average" of the minimum Tour ranking points for each Tour, provided that there is an equal player participation from each Tour concerned.This "Average" of minimum Tour ranking points will also apply to events shared by the European Tour and the Challenge Tour.
2.The Board also approved a measure to award Official World Golf Ranking points to a player who receives official prize money in events where there is an additional 54 hole "cut", provided he falls within the range of Ranking points to be awarded.
During the year the Board has taken the opportunity to review the effects of the changes made to the scale and realignment of ranking points introduced on January 1 2000 and are satisfied that no further adjustments are required at the present time.
However, the Board is continuing to monitor the point's structure, particularly in relationship to the status of the points awarded to the Major Championships.
The Board has also monitored the forthcoming change to degrading the Ranking points on a quarterly basis rather than the current annual degrading - this measure was announced last year but will not take place until September 1 2001 so as to give players sufficient notice of the change for the purpose of eligibility criteria for World events.
The Tours have agreed to keep their respective players informed of any changes in their Ranking position in the lead up to the implementation of the new system.
The International Federation of PGA Tours has also agreed to use both the Top-50 of the Official World Golf Ranking from the current and new system for the 2001 WGC American Express Championship which occurs only a few weeks after the introduction of the new system.
