Well the thing is, you need to play the requisite number of ranked rounds per tier AND achieve the required average to move up. It is not one or the other, but both, thus ensuring in a sort of way, that one is ready to move up to faster green speeds and sometimes, longer tees.
The level has no bearing on being moved to a new tier, such as Tour Pro to Master.
Some people use this system in order to be given the opportunity to buy better equipment, since the higher the Level, the more becomes available, whilst remaining relatively low in terms of Tiers. If that player then uses this to his advantage by playing off shorter Tees with better equipment, against others who do not share that advantage, some would call that sand bagging, or basically cheating the system. I would venture to suggest that those players are more than likely on a second or subsequent playing account having spent time here with their initial account learning the ropes.
Many players who have only just begun, or who are still on their first account, are not yet aware of how to game in this way and are thus made easy prey for those who find it necessary to create multiple accounts.
On WGT at the moment, are several legends (and others) whose second accounts (and subsequent) show remarkably good player skills for so-called lower tiered players. Whilst this is by no means a new phenomenon, it is nontheless deplorable and in so many ways, laughable, that a persons ego has to stoop that low in order to bring some kind of inner peace to the perpetrator.
Those who came by their legend status on their second account exhibit these traits and are mocked by their peers as foolish and child-like in their quest for acceptance in the big boys club. Some however, have managed by bribery, stealth and duplicity, to hoodwink their fellow conspirators into believing them genuine.
I am cognisant of the fact that I have strayed just a little from the original post, but in the interests of public enlightenment, it is just as well that anyone new to Wgt, has an insight into what, how and who abuses the system, the system that each and every one of us pays for in the belief that we do so with honesty, integrity and honour, despite these fools for nothing, who do not feel the need for such noble attributes.
Lizzie xx