Graeme McDowell to Join Sky Sports Broadcast Team for The Open After Missing Qualification

Graeme McDowell won’t be playing at The Open—but he’s still headed home to Royal Portrush in a brand-new role. 🎤⛳️

The 2010 U.S. Open champion may have narrowly missed out on qualifying for golf’s oldest major, but McDowell will still be front and center this July—making his Sky Sports broadcasting debut alongside Sir Nick Faldo, Paul McGinley, and more.

In this video, we break down McDowell’s heartfelt reaction to missing out, his history with the Portrush course, and why his broadcasting insight could be one of the week’s biggest highlights.

From a hole named in his honor to his current status in the LIV Golf League, we dive into McDowell’s journey, his form, and what this new chapter means for his career.

🏌️‍♂️ Can G-Mac return to major form in the future—or has he found a new calling behind the mic?

📍 The Open Championship 2025
📅 Royal Portrush Returns for the First Time Since 2019

👇 Let us know in the comments if you’d rather see McDowell teeing it up or calling the action!

#GraemeMcDowell #TheOpen #RoyalPortrush #GolfBroadcast #SkySportsGolf #LIVGolf #TheOpenChampionship #GolfCommentary #GolfLegends #IrishGolf #Portrush2025 #GolfNews #MajorChampionships #GMacReturns

Graham McDow won’t be competing in this year’s Open Championship, but he’ll still be a prominent presence at Royal Portrait. The major returns to McDow’s hometown for the first time since 2019. But instead of walking the fairways as a competitor, the 2010 US Open champion will make his debut as a Sky Sports broadcaster, joining the network’s coverage team for golf’s oldest major. While fans may have hoped to see McDow tee it up on the Dunloose links, his attempt to qualify through the 36 hole final qualifying event at Royal Sinkports in Kent fell just short. He carded rounds of 70 and 73, finishing three strokes shy of earning a spot in the field that McDow expressed his disappointment on social media, writing on X, formerly Twitter, going to sit this one out at Royal Portrait. Going to be an amazing week with lots to celebrate for Irish golf. Congrats to all the guys who qualified. It’s a grind with such a special reward. My game is trending, so we plow ahead. Despite the setback, McDow’s presence at Portric still holds significance. Few players know the course as intimately as he does. Not only is he a native of the town, but a hole in the neighboring valley course is even named in his honor. Dut McDow will join threetime open champion Sir Nick Faldo along with Paul McInley, Rich Beam, Iona Steven, Henny Zuul, and Wayne Riley as part of Sky Sports comprehensive broadcast lineup for the final major of the season that McDow hasn’t played in a major championship since the 2020 US Open when his exemption from his 2010. Pebble Beach went expired. He signed an extension with Brooks Kepkis Smash GC team on the Elivy Golf League last season. Though his future with the breakaway tour remains uncertain, even without competing, McDow will offer unmatched insight into Royal Portrait’s layout, weather conditions, and strategic challenges, ensuring fans still get a hometown perspective from a local legend.