FAQ - Rolex Rankings

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Rolex rankings Fact Sheet

What are the Rolex Rankings?

The first-ever comprehensive world rankings system for women’s golf.
Who sanctions the Rolex Rankings?

The Rolex Rankings are sanctioned by twelve women’s professional golf tours – China Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour (CLPGA); Chinese Taipei Ladies Professional Golf Association (TLPGA); Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association (JLPGA); Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association Step Up Tour (JSU); Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA); Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association Dream Tour (KDT); Ladies European Tour (LET); Ladies European Tour Access Series (LETAS); Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA); the Epson Tour (EPSON); Thai Ladies Professional Golf Association (THAILPGA); and the Women’s Professional Golf Association Tour of Australasia, formerly the Australian Ladies Professional Golf, (WPGAA) – as well as The Royal and Ancient (R&A), which administers the AIG Women’s Open and the United States Golf Association (USGA) which conducts the U.S. Women’s Open.
Who manages the Rolex Rankings?

R2 Innovative Technologies (R2IT), an independent software development company of Wellington, Fla., developed the software for the Rolex Rankings and continues to maintain them. R2IT is a sports-related software development company.
When did the Rolex Rankings start?

The concept of a unified women’s world golf rankings was agreed upon by the leaders of the five major women’s professional tours during the inaugural World Congress of Women’s Golf in May 2004. The tours have since been joined by the LGU, which then merged its business operations with the R&A in January 2017. The first Rolex Rankings list was published on February 21, 2006 (for the week of February 20).
Who ranked #1 when the Rolex Rankings were officially unveiled?

Annika Sörenstam.
Who is eligible for the Rolex Rankings?

Any professional or amateur woman golfer who has competed in an eligible event is eligible to be ranked.
What events are counted?

Official events on the twelve tours (CLPGA, JLPGA, JSU, KLPGA, KDT, LET, LETAS, LPGA, EPSON, TLPGA, THAILPGA, WPGAA).
How are the rankings determined?

The Rolex Rankings share the established men’s world rankings philosophy of awarding points based on the field strength and evaluate a player’s performance over a rolling two-year period weighted in favor of the current year with even more importance placed on the most recent 13 weeks. Points are reduced in 91 equal decrements following week 13 for the remaining 91 weeks of the two-year Rolex Ranking period.
How are points awarded?

Points are awarded according to the strength of the field, with the exception of the five major championships on the LPGA schedule which have a fixed-point distribution. The minimum strength of field (SOF) of 50 is applied to the JLPGA, KLPGA, LET and LPGA. The minimum SOF of 25 is applied to the WPGAA. The CLPGA, LETAS, JSU, KDT, EPSON, TLPGA and THAILPGA receive a bonus strength of field (Bonus SOF) of six points for all tournaments that are not co-sanctioned with a tour which receives the minimum SOF. The CLPGA, EPSON and TLPGA have one flagship event per calendar year that receives a minimum SOF of 50. The LETAS and JSU have one flagship event per calendar year that receives a minimum SOF of 25. The JLPGA and KLPGA have two flagship events per calendar year that receive a minimum SOF of 350. The number of points distributed to each player is dependent upon her finish and the scale of points allocated on the basis of the number and rankings of players in the field.

The Rolex Rankings system awards points to players based on an accumulated 104-week “rolling” period, with the points awarded in the most recent 13-week period carrying a stronger value.

A player is then ranked according to her average points per tournament, as determined by dividing her total number of points by the number of eligible tournaments played during the 104-week period. A minimum divisor (35) is also used.
Is strength of field based on the rankings?

Yes. Strength of field is determined by the field of players and their world rankings as well as their home tour ranking (the previous season’s LET’s Order of Merit, LPGA’s Official Money List, etc.).

EXAMPLE: For an LPGA event, strength of field will be determined by how many of the top-600 Rolex Rankings players are in the field AND how many of the top-30 players from the previous season’s Official Money List are competing. Values are assigned to each player based on her ranking in each category and the values will be added to determine the field strength. Field strength then determines how many players earn Rolex Rankings and what point values they receive for that given event.
What are home tour rankings points?

Home tour rankings are based on the previous season’s tour rankings (LET’s Order of Merit, LPGA’s Official Money List, etc.). They reflect values for the top-30 players in the field from the previous year’s tour money list/order of merit. Home Tour Points offer a maximum of 75 points or 75 percent value of World Points value, whichever is lower.
How are World Event Ratings Points determined?

World Event Ratings Points are derived by adding world ranking points and home tour rankings points.
Do all players making the cut get points?

No. The number of players who receive Rolex Rankings points each week is dependent upon the field strength and number of World Event Ratings Points available at each eligible tournament.
What about a player who makes the cut in a major championship?

All players who make the cut in Majors will earn Rolex Rankings points.
Does a player get full Rolex Rankings points value for the finish?

No. If there is a tie at any given place when awarding points, the tie will be broken in the same fashion as earnings are at the conclusion of a tournament. All points for players tied for a given place will be added and divided to arrive at a player’s earned points for that week.
What counts as an “event played” for a player?

A player must hit at least one shot in an eligible event to receive credit for playing in that eligible event. If that player is disqualified or withdrawn at any point in time during the event, she will receive credit for competing in that designated event (but not earn any Rolex Rankings points).
What are Rolex Rankings used for?

The Rolex Rankings are used by each of the tours to determine eligibility criteria for select events.

EXAMPLE: On the LPGA Tour, the Rolex Rankings will be one of the entry and eligibility criteria into the HSBC Women’s World Championship, The Chevron Championship, U.S. Women’s Open, KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, AIG Women’s Open and The Amundi Evian Championship.
If a player is already ranked on the Rolex Rankings, but because of the two-year rolling period doesn’t play in any eligible events during that given 104-week cycle, can she be removed from the list?

Yes. A player must play at least once during the two-year/104-week rolling period to be eligible for a Rolex Ranking.
How can a new player be ranked?

Any professional or amateur woman golfer who has competed in an eligible event is eligible to be ranked.
How often will the Rolex Rankings be updated?

The official Rolex Rankings will be issued every Monday, following the completion of the previous week’s tournaments around the world. They will be posted on each tour’s website and be available on www.rolexrankings.com.