Four gamers from LIV Golf have proven their abilities within the first spherical of the Asian Tour International Series Macau, taking an enormous step in the direction of boosting their world rankings. Mito Pereira, Pat Perez, David Puig, and Patrick Reed are all within the prime 5 after the primary spherical.

They're amongst 21 gamers from LIV Golf who're enjoying within the occasion to earn factors for the Official World Golf Rankings. The Saudi-funded tour is not recognised by these rankings but.

Not everybody had an excellent first spherical, however the prime finish of the leaderboard was nonetheless dominated by LIV gamers who made a powerful assertion with their performances. Pereira scored seven birdies and just one bogey, tying for second place with a rating of -6.

Even although he mentioned he was drained, he confirmed off his abilities and saved going. After leaving the course, he mentioned: "To be honest, I am really tired. I am ready to go home but it's the last push.

"I'm making an attempt to present it my finest. Pretty strong at this time, tee to inexperienced," he continued. "Made some good putts, some clutch putts, to maintain the momentum going. Really proud of how I performed total" 

Perez did just as well as Pereira, getting seven birdies and only one bogey, which also put him in a tie for second place. He got five of his birdies on the back nine without any bogeys.

The 48-year-old credited his success to regular practice and enjoying the environment. "I've been enjoying good all week, the course type of matches my eye," he said.

"I used to be excited to play. You have to maintain your driver in play right here. It's cool being right here, it is mini-Vegas, and I like Vegas."

Despite their impressive performances in the International Series events, Pereira, Perez, Puig, and Reed find themselves outside the top 100 of the Official World Golf Rankings [OWGR]. This is mainly because they can't earn ranking points from LIV Golf events.

After much thought, the OWGR turned down LIV Golf's request for world ranking points in October last year. The rankings body had worries about LIV Golf's format, shotgun start rules, and team elements.

"We are usually not at conflict with them," Peter Dawson, chairman of the OWGR board, said. "This determination to not make them eligible will not be political. It is fully technical.

"LIV players are self-evidently good enough to be ranked," he continued. They're simply not enjoying in a format the place they are often ranked pretty with the opposite 24 excursions and hundreds of gamers making an attempt to compete on them." 

As a outcome, LIV formally pulled its software, first put in in July 2022. Commissioner Greg Norman expressed disappointment in a letter, saying that the OWGR confirmed little curiosity in working along with the Saudi-backed league.

Despite the league's determination, 21 of LIV's prime gamers, together with Reed and Perez, are collaborating within the International Series match in Macau. They're hoping to earn rating factors that may enable them to compete in main tournaments.