LIV Golfer Wins OWGR-Sanctioned Event
Carlos Ortiz won the V Copa Prissa on the Gira De Golf Professional Mexicana to move up 11 places in the world rankings


Thanks to LIV Golf’s inability to offer Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points, its players have had to seek opportunities to do so elsewhere.
While the likes of Lee Westwood and Patrick Reed have turned to both the Asian Tour and DP World Tour to accumulate points in recent months, another LIV Golf player, Carlos Ortiz, took part in the V Copa Prissa on a circuit more recently granted OWGR eligibility – the Gira De Golf Professional Mexicana (GGPM).
Ortiz will not be regretting his decision to play in his homeland either, after he won the tournament by two shots over Isidro Benitez to claim just over 1.8 points. That ensured a jump up the world rankings of 11 places from World No.275 to World No.264.
The GGPM was only granted world ranking points status at the start of the year, having been formed in 2017. Like LIV Golf, its tournaments are played over 54 holes, albeit with a cut after the first two rounds.
Like many other LIV Golf players, Ortiz’s world ranking has plummeted since signing for it. As he competed in his first tournament last year in Portland, Oregon, Ortiz was ranked World No.119. However, before his win at the weekend, opportunities to arrest the slide since then had been limited to just two Asian Tour events – February’s Saudi International, where he missed the cut and so failed to accumulate points, and a tie for 43rd in the International Series Oman the week after, which yielded just 0.35 points.
While the GGPM offers another chance for Ortiz to move back up the world rankings, he still has some way to go to recover his career high of World No.44, which he achieved in February 2021. The circuit also offers considerably slimmer pickings than the options available to Ortiz had he remained with the PGA Tour, where he has won once.
In contrast to the number of points Ortiz claimed for his victory at the weekend, the winner of the PGA Tour’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, Kurt Kitayama, amassed over 67 OWGR points after edging out Rory McIlroy and Harris English at Bay Hill. Meanwhile, even a tie for 39th in that tournament, which was shared by 14 players including World No.1 Jon Rahm, handed them more points than Ortiz for his win, demonstrating how much more difficult his efforts to gain OWGR points are nowadays.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
Mike has over 25 years of experience in journalism, including writing on a range of sports throughout that time, such as golf, football and cricket. Now a freelance staff writer for Golf Monthly, he is dedicated to covering the game's most newsworthy stories.
He has written hundreds of articles on the game, from features offering insights into how members of the public can play some of the world's most revered courses, to breaking news stories affecting everything from the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to developmental Tours and the amateur game.
Mike grew up in East Yorkshire and began his career in journalism in 1997. He then moved to London in 2003 as his career flourished, and nowadays resides in New Brunswick, Canada, where he and his wife raise their young family less than a mile from his local course.
Kevin Cook’s acclaimed 2007 biography, Tommy’s Honour, about golf’s founding father and son, remains one of his all-time favourite sports books.
-
Valspar Championship Picks, Predictions And Odds
The final event of the Florida Swing comes from the Valspar Championship, where nearly half of the world's top 50 are set to tee it up on the Copperhead Course
By Matt Cradock Published
-
Porsche Singapore Classic 2025 Picks, Predictions And Odds
The DP World Tour returns in Asia this week at the Porsche Singapore Classic, and we've picked our favorites to contend as well as an outside shout for the title
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Rory McIlroy Reunited With Old Clubs After Near $1000 Uber Ride
The four-time Major winner switched back to his old clubs at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, with the Uber trip to get them costing a near $1000
By Matt Cradock Published
-
College Golfer Apologizes After Being Removed From TPC Sawgrass For Heckling Rory McIlroy
University of Texas golfer, Luke Potter made a comment to McIlroy during Tuesday's practice round which caused the World No.2 to take his phone
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
'Something Went Terribly Wrong If I Have To Compete At 50' - Rory McIlroy Categorically Rules Out Playing Senior Tour Golf
Asked about his long-term plans, the Northern Irishman insisted he would not be visiting the Champions Tour once he's retired from pro golf
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Rory McIlroy Reveals Multiple Equipment Changes At Arnold Palmer Invitational
The Northern Irishman has made a number of tweaks to his gear setup ahead of this week's Arnold Palmer Invitational
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
'I Don't Think The PGA Tour Needs A Deal. I Think The Momentum Is Pretty Strong' - Rory McIlroy On PGA Tour-PIF Deal And Why He's Adding An Extra Tournament To His Schedule
The four-time Major winner had plenty to say on a range of subjects affecting the men's elite game - here are six of the key talking points
By Mike Hall Published
-
Seminole Pro-Member Scores 2025: Where Did Tiger Woods And Rory McIlroy Finish?
New Zealand's Ryan Fox and his playing partner, Jimmy Dunne III almost claimed a clean sweep at the exclusive one-day event in south-east Florida...
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Arnold Palmer Invitational Prize Money Payout 2025
Many of the world's best players compete for one of the largest prize money payouts of the PGA Tour season
By Mike Hall Published
-
Rory McIlroy Reveals His Favorite Golf Club Of All Time
The four-time Major winner has used various clubs from multiple brands throughout his career and, at Torrey Pines, McIlroy revealed his favorite model of all time
By Matt Cradock Published