The R&A and the USGA have announced changes to the World Amateur Golf Ranking formula that will kick in with the first update in January 2020.
The new formula uses what's being dubbed the Power Method to reshape the algorithm. The Power Method was designed to place a greater emphasis on current form and more recent results.
“We are thrilled to introduce the Power Method which will significantly improve the World Amateur Golf Ranking,” said Jeff Holzschuh, Chairman of the WAGR Committee. “We have listened to feedback about WAGR since its inception and we believe this change addresses many of the challenges within the previous system.”
As part of the new system, every significant amateur event in the world will earn a Power ranking based on the strength of field. Akin to how the Official World Golf Ranking and Rolex Rankings work, the Power ranking of an event's starting field will determine the ranking points available to the field. This will apply to as many as 1,000 amateur events, with players capable of earning WAGR points from playing in professional events as well.
The Power Method can be applied to all competitive events, including stroke play, match play and unique formats, like the Stableford system.
Additionally, the points will now be allocated by overall finish position of players in the field. The current system allocates points based on position after each round.
Points will also be deprecated under the new system, which will be calculated based on a rolling, 104-week system. The points earned in the last 52 weeks will count at full value, with points from events deprecating in equal increments in weeks 53-104 after being earned. After 104 weeks, the points will no longer count toward a player's total.
The divisor into points earned will be event based, and the event tally will be aged out. The new minimum divisors will be seven for women and eight for men.
