Bryson DeChambeau isn't the only one who has experienced a dip in form after switching to LIV Golf. Many stars, including Dustin Johnson and Cameron Smith, have struggled to regain their previous performance levels, especially in the major leagues. While some have had good showings on the LIV Tour and a few, like Brooks Koepka, have found success in the majors (notably Koepka's win at the PGA Championship last year), overall, many who defected to the Saudi-backed tournament have faced disappointment. .
But it's interesting to see how DeChambeau's return to form measures up statistically. We know, of course, that he did well in the 2024 Masters and PGA Championship, finishing second and 6th.th (his best finish in any event), yet there is also evidence that his game has improved at all levels. Perhaps most interesting is how it compares to strokes gained. The OWGR ranks DeChambeau at number four in its Strokes Gained World Rating (SGWR) category, behind the exciting trio of Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, and Rory McIlroy.
SGWR can show us form players
The SGWR ranking is really useful in these days of golf's division, and some would argue that it is a pure rating scale compared to the traditional OWGR scoring system. DeChambeau's official ranking is 36th very different from his 4th in SGWR. However, broadly speaking when we compare the OWGR and SGWR levels, the numbers make sense:
| The player | OWGR | SGWR |
| Scottie Scheffler | 1 | 1 |
| Xander Schauffele | 2 | 2 |
| Rory McIlroy | 3 | 3 |
| Bryson DeChambeau | 36 | 4 |
| Jon Rahm | 7 | 5 |
| Victor Hovland | 5 | 6 |
| Collin Morikawa | 8 | 7 |
*Data taken earlier
The point of the table above is to show that there is a direct correlation between the official world level and the SGWR, although, as we can see, it is not always neat. But the fact that the top three players are tied in the overall order shows that there is merit to it. While some don't quite match up, it's close enough to say that the comparison has some merit. The information is useful for a variety of purposes, including, possibly, sports betting strategies. But does it also suggest that Bryson DeChambeau is an outsider? That is very difficult to confirm.
First, we must note that SGWR estimates are not very transparent and are not immune to criticism. We should also note that DeChambeau's form on the LIV Tour has not been great. He is outside the top 10 in the current standings, has yet to win an event at LIV this year, and has an average finish of 15.th. He is also not the only player whose OWGR ranking is not exactly the same as his SGWR ranking: Louis Oosthuizen has 8.th in SGWR and outside the top 100 in OWGR. Matthew Wolff is the most extreme, ranked 16thth in SGWR with an earned run and no more than 800 in OWGR.
The standard shows problems with the LIV crossover
Now, you can put a lot of this down to the problems of ranking players who have gone to LIV Golf. Wolff was one of the first rebels, and that meant his position declined two years ago. Others, like Rahm, unless there is a resolution, will see their quality drop over time. Focus on SGWR will likely increase, but so will criticism of the program.
Like many differences between the LIV and the PGA, the question of player rating remains divisive and difficult. A system like SGWR would be the best solution, but it may need to be modified to give us a better view of the best players in the world. To give you an example, Joaquin Niemann is currently 14 years oldth in SGWR (95th in OWGR), but he has been the best player in LIV in terms of results by a long way this year.
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