Graeme Mcdowell Has Ryder Cup Aspirations, But There Is One Problem

Graeme McDowell would for illustration to beryllium considered for nan 2027 European Ryder Cup captaincy, a desire he knows is analyzable greatly by his LIV Golf League association. And his comments astatine nan Hong Kong Open connected nan matter are undoubtedly offering plentifulness for proponents and detractors to discuss.

In an question and reply pinch bunkered.co.uk, McDowell acknowledged nan trouble of nan business but besides said he believed nan LIV dilemma is not of his doing.

“It’s connected my mind, but being honorable pinch you, I don’t cognize what to do astir it,” McDowell told nan website erstwhile asked pursuing nan 2nd information of nan International Series event, wherever he missed nan cut.

“I don’t cognize whether it should beryllium connected my mind astatine all, arsenic successful if it’s thing that’s not imaginable politically. If that’s nan case, intelligibly I’ll beryllium disappointed, but I’ll evidently understand why. The world is wherever it is. People will opportunity I’ll get what I deserve, which, you know, I’m not really judge I wholly work together pinch that, right?

“People will opportunity I don’t merit it and I’m responsible for a batch of what’s happened. But I’m a very, very mini cog successful this large wheel.”

McDowell, nan 2010 U.S. Open champion who played connected 4 European Ryder Cup teams, would person been considered among nan favorites to get nan captaincy successful 2027 astatine Adare Manor successful Ireland anterior to going to LIV Golf. McDowell, 46, who is from Portrush, Northern Ireland, will beryllium successful nan desired property model for nan position.

But players who person gone to LIV Golf person seen this avenue fundamentally unopen down. The two-time winning skipper Luke Donald only sewage nan occupation successful 2022 erstwhile Henrik Stenson, nan named captain, joined LIV. Now Donald could beryllium asked to do it again. Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter, locks to beryllium captains earlier going to LIV, are besides seemingly retired of nan running.

Then location is nan rumor of giving up his DP World Tour membership. In 2018, nan circuit enacted a norm that said immoderate subordinate who gave up their rank astatine immoderate clip would forfeit nan correct to beryllium a early skipper aliases adjunct captain. That is an rumor that is simply a subplot of his LIV Golf decision.

“The divisiveness has travel from nan champion players successful nan world,” McDowell said. “It hasn’t came from nan 40-somethings for illustration myself that are conscionable trying to eke retired a surviving and staying competitory connected an opportunity that was presented to us, which would person been crazy to opportunity nary to from a business constituent of view.

Luke Donald and Graeme McDowell were vice captains for Europe astatine nan 2021 Ryder Cup astatine Whistling Straits. / Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

“I don’t cognize if it’s thing that’s going to beryllium unachievable. I’m not judge if it’s thing that’s perchance connected nan radar.  I only saw a mates of comments wherever Luke said possibly he doesn’t want to do it a 3rd time.

“Justin Rose doesn’t want it because he wants to play. Rory [McIlroy] is evidently not moreover close, right? He doesn’t want to beryllium playing captain. So it’s benignant of like, ‘who’s it going to be?’ And why couldn’t it beryllium me? I would emotion to beryllium nan oliva branch that perchance puts immoderate of this backmost together again.”

The “eke retired a living” remark is causing McDowell immoderate angst since nan publication of nan story. His intent has been overshadowed by nan mediocre prime of words. Clearly anyone who went to LIV and has been playing location for 4 years isn’t having excessively overmuch problem connected nan money front. But his constituent was that his determination to spell was not nan breaking constituent successful immoderate divisiveness.

Still, McDowell faces respective hurdles. He has fixed up his DP World Tour rank aft paying his fines, saying he didn’t want to incur immoderate much while playing a constricted schedule. He plans to play for LIV Golf successful 2026 and would surely request to beryllium much of a beingness connected nan DP World Tour if he is to return connected nan role.

There is besides nan matter of a DP World Tour norm that stipulates immoderate subordinate giving up rank astatine immoderate clip would forfeit nan correct to beryllium a early skipper aliases assistant. That is thing that Jon Rahm will person to look arsenic good if he elects to springiness up rank successful a non-Ryder Cup year.

“I don’t want to beryllium presumptuous by putting my chapeau into nan ring. Because it whitethorn beryllium thing that nan powers that beryllium wrong Ryder Cup Europe are saying, well, that’s conscionable not possible,” he said. “If it is possible, I will surely do everything that I tin to beryllium nan champion Ryder Cup skipper I tin be. And obviously, I’d emotion to beryllium down pinch Ryder Cup Europe and, if it’s a possibility, find retired what they would request maine to do.”

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