The R&A and the USGA have launched the new Power Method for the World Amateur Golf Ranking ® (WAGR ®).

The Power Method aims to better reflect the current performance of golfers by improving the algorithms used to determine the rankings. The changes include a greater emphasis on recent results.
 

How the Power Method works…

In the new structure, every event in the world earn a power number based on the strength of its starting field which then determines the total number of ranking points on offer to the field. This extends to a maximum of 1000 for amateur events with players also able to gain ranking points from playing in professional tournaments.

The Power Method can be applied to all competitive events: amateur, professional, stroke play, match play and can also cater to formats the previous system would not accommodate, such as Stableford. 

Ranking points are allocated to players based on their overall finishing position in the tournament rather than on the previous round-based allocation. 

Event ageing to be introduced

To ensure WAGR is truly representative of the current competitive environment, event ageing has also been introduced as part of the Power Method to best reflect and reward players’ current form. Points from events within the most recent 52 weeks of a player’s record count at full value. From there, event points will reduce proportionately, approximately two percent, per week before their removal after 104 weeks. 

The divisors under the Power Method have also become event based versus the previous round-based divisor scheme. Like the points, divisors have also been aged after 52 weeks. The new minimum divisors is seven for women and eight for men. Due to the ageing of points and divisors under the Power Method, unlike the previous system, minimum divisors are the same for newly ranked and long-established players.

Source: https://www.wagr.com/

Cover Photo: © DGV/Stebl