McDowell clinging to hope that he’ll be in the European Team Room at Adare Manor – Irish Golfer Magazine

By Bernie McGuire, Riyadh

It was on July 25, 2019 when it was announced that Ireland, and the famed Adare Manor club outside Limerick, had been chosen to host the 2027 Ryder Cup.

One of the first thoughts following this news was that Ireland’s own Graeme McDowell would be an ideal European Team Captain for the 46th staging of the biennial competition.

McDowell, a US Open winner, made his Ryder Cup debut in 2008. He is a veteran of four European Ryder Cup sides, including three consecutive victorious teams from 2010 to 2014. He also etched his name into Ryder Cup history by holing the winning putt to deliver Europe victory in 2010 at Celtic Manor.

However, in 2022, men’s professional golf was rocked by the formation of LIV Golf.

McDowell, also a winner of 11 DP World Tour events, was among those who signed with the breakaway league, a move that drew much unnecessary criticism.

G-Mac had gone about his business without fuss, but like so many other European Ryder Cup-winning heroes such as Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood, and Ian Poulter, he has been largely forgotten in discussions about future Ryder Cup team members, vice-captains, or potential captains.

This, as the golf world knows, is their ‘sentence’ for abandoning the DP World Tour in favour of the riches offered by LIV Golf.

Nevertheless, there may be light at the end of the tunnel for men’s professional golf. G-Mac, speaking exclusively to GolfByTourMiss, is not holding his breath regarding the possibility of leading Europe into competition on his ‘home’ soil in just under three years’ time.

“Highly unlikely, highly unlikely,” said McDowell.

“I’ve had that conversation with myself and I’ve made my peace with it a little bit. I had visualised myself standing up there at the opening ceremony at Adare Manor and introducing my European Team.

“It would be the greatest moment in my golfing life, but it probably won’t happen now. It is what it is, and I’m not going to lose any sleep over it.

“I pray that something will change so that I can be there at Adare Manor in some capacity with the European Ryder Cup team, but I doubt that will happen now.

“I’d love to be in the team room. I loved being in the team room as a vice-captain.

“So, let’s just stay there in the short term.”

McDowell and DP World Tour Membership

McDowell confirmed he has paid all fines imposed on him by the European Tour, but he did not take up DP World Tour membership for 2024, nor has he applied for membership for 2025.

“Because I don’t want to be hit by more fines; I don’t see the point in that,” he said.

“Could I play the three or four events that you have to play? Of course, I could, but I’m not going to be able to contribute to the DP World Tour at a high enough level that I would like to merit taking up membership and taking a spot from guys who could be playing more on the Tour.

“I choose to sit on the sidelines right now until the time is right for me to take up my membership and play a little bit.

“Right now, I have a healthy 2025 LIV season ahead of me with my 14 events, while I’ll play on the Asian Tour a few times, and I’ll be looking at qualifying venues for Royal Portrush, which is obviously a major target for me next year.

“I’ll go to the US Open qualifying and just see how the schedule lays out.”

LIV Golf Players United on the Ryder Cup

McDowell also spoke of the importance of LIV Golf’s European-eligible players remaining united when it comes to the Ryder Cup. He emphasised the deep appreciation they have for the opportunities provided by the European Tour.

“Players like Sergio, Westwood, Poults, and all the way down the ranks, including myself, we know where we came from,” said McDowell.

“We know what the Ryder Cup means to us and why we are here because of the European Tour. So there’s a lot of love out here, but there’s also a lot of disappointment in the way it’s all been handled because of what these guys have done.

“The European Tour is laying down the law the only way they know how, and they have to be consistent. But come September, they’re going to want Jon Rahm at 100% if they’re going to win the Ryder Cup.

“And I’ve read a lot of stuff on social media saying that Sergio Garcia is washed up and not good enough to play in the Ryder Cup.

“I respectfully disagree. The guy’s still got it. If Sergio Garcia is not one of the top golfers in Europe right now, then show me the other five or six guys. I respectfully disagree.

“And if Sergio was at Bethpage next year, it would be awesome.”

McDowell Moving Forward After Criticism

McDowell spoke about the hurt caused by the negative criticism he’s faced since joining LIV, and how he’s moved forward with his career.

“Honestly, my focus now has shifted so far away from the global scene. It’s become very tight and focused on me and what we’re trying to do on the golf course,” he said.

“The noise around LIV has been difficult for me. We sit around every day, talking about why we’re here, and can you believe that?

“It gets crazy when you see commercials on the Golf Channel slagging off what we’re doing here.

“I’ve given so much to this sport over the years, and it felt like it all disappeared overnight. So I’ve tried to get away from that talk and focus on what I’m doing and the tour I’m playing on.

“You can ask me if I watch any golf. I don’t watch it. I try to be micro-focused on myself and be a bit selfish about it, as I realise it’s a pretty fickle world, and people can turn their backs on you, despite 20 years of building a reputation as an honest, hard-working guy.

“All I’ve ever tried to do is my best, but in a second, it’s gone.

“It took me a while, but I’m long over all that. Like I say, the only way I can get on with my job is to keep my head down, chisel away, and play the sport I love as well as I possibly can.”