The United States Golf Association (USGA) has announced its support of the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) at its Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona. The R&A and USGA are excited to engage in a partnership that promotes the Ranking as a global standard in amateur golf.
Starting this season, the USGA will use the World Amateur Golf Ranking as one of its exemption categories for its men’s amateur championships. Beginning in 2012, the USGA anticipates using the new Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking as one means of gaining entry into its women’s amateur championships. The WAGR is already used as the entry standard for numerous championships around the world, including the (British) Amateur Championship and European Amateur Championship.
Last week, The R&A announced the introduction of the Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking. It complements an already well established men’s ranking, which encompasses more than 1,800 counting events and ranks more than 5,000 players representing 70 countries worldwide.
The launch of the women’s ranking follows an extensive period of testing by The R&A and will provide the women’s game with a way to compare amateur player performance in elite competition over a rolling 52-week period. The women’s ranking currently has a calendar of 1,350 counting events with more than 3,100 ranked players from 50 countries.
A new World Amateur Golf Ranking website will be launched later this month under authority of both partner organisations. While the physical operation of the WAGR will remain in St Andrews, Scotland, The R&A and the USGA will jointly exercise committee oversight of WAGR system administration.
The Ranking has become a weekly point of reference for players, championship organisers and golf fans alike and is supported by governing bodies and tournament administrators worldwide.