LIV Golf 'bots' called out by Shane Lowry as disagrees with Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau

Shane Lowry has fired back at 's most ardent supporters over the sport's rankings - after and previously criticised the significance of 's system. Despite their exceptional skills, these two golfing giants currently sit at 80th and 19th in the Official World Golf Rankings, a position that hardly reflects their true capabilities.

Their low rankings are a direct result of LIV's decision last year to withdraw their application for their players to earn world ranking points from their tournaments. The OWGR, which determines eligibility for the sport's four major championships, initially received an application for recognition from the Saudi-backed series in 2022.

However, this was turned down in October 2023 due to the league's format of 54 holes with no cuts. The absence of world ranking points from tournament participation and victories meant that LIV's players would inevitably slide down the rankings.

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Despite previous grumbles about the rankings from ex-stars, golfers like Lowry have stepped up to defend them. The Irish golfer reached his career-best ranking of 12 last month - although he has since slipped to 13 with Tommy Fleetwood overtaking him - and confessed that he takes pride in his achievements, despite the criticism levelled at the rankings by those backing LIV, reports .

In a candid chat with the, the 38-year-old golfer was asked about his feelings towards his new ranking. He responded frankly: "Well, you'll get the LIV bots saying the world rankings don't matter anymore, but I don't give a s---. I'm pretty happy with that."

His viewpoint starkly contrasts with those of Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau. Rahm, during his stint on the PGA Tour, expressed scepticism about the ranking system. The 2023 Masters champion confessed last year: "I'm going to be honest, I didn't know they were still trying to get World Ranking points.

"I didn't think it was a good system back then. And if anything, the more time that goes on, the more it proves to be wrong." DeChambeau, the U.S. Open winner of last year, went a step further when warning that the rankings risk becoming "obsolete" if they continue to ignore points from LIV events. "You should realise that the OWGR is not accurate," he said in 2023.

"I think that they need to come to a resolution, or it will become obsolete. It's pretty much almost obsolete as of right now. But again, if the majors and everything continue to have that as their ranking system, then they are biting it quite heavily.

"I'd very disappointing that that's the way it goes because it's not right, and I hope people can see through that. It's disappointing that somebody takes such a hard stance."

The comment comes as tension brews amongst players in the lead-up to the Masters. Notably, both Lowry and DeChambeau have their sights set on clinching their first-ever Green Jacket at the prestigious event.