Graeme McDowell is one of four members of Smash GC alongside captain Brooks Koepka, and the former U.S. Open champion is looking to keep his LIV Golf spot for 2026
Graeme McDowell discussed his future(Image: Getty Images)
Graeme McDowell has hopes of remaining on the LIV Golf roster and Smash GC with the 2025 campaign nearing its conclusion.
McDowell, who was eventually re-signed by Brooks Koepka to the Smash setup earlier this year, is in action at LIV UK this week at JCB Golf and Country Club. Having waited some time to have his 2025 future confirmed by Koepka and co, he currently finds himself in the LIV Open Zone.
Following this week’s event in JCB, two regular-season events remain on the LIV schedule, with those finishing in the Open Zone and without a contract for the year following at risk of losing their spot.
READ MORE: Bubba Watson opens up on LIV Golf ‘struggles’ after bringing in PGA Tour caddieREAD MORE: LIV Golf star’s response to firing coach and caddie speaks volumes with $4M payout close
McDowell knows he needs to finish in the top 24 to firm up his 2026 place, but even if that is not the case, the Northern Irishman hopes he has done enough to catch the eye of captain Koepka once more.
“If I get into the top 24, I’m in great shape,” he told Bunkered.
“If I don’t, there are no guarantees. I think we’ve got a great dynamic on Smash. As the number four guy, I think I’m pulling my weight for sure. I’d be confident that potentially that I could play next year.”
McDowell was speaking after taking on an analyst role with Sky Sports at last week’s Open Championship.
Despite seemingly enjoying his spell in the media, he clearly still hopes to play competitive golf. If he does fail to return to LIV next season, though, the former U.S. Open winner will have a big decision to make about his future.
Graeme McDowell plays with Brooks Koepka(Image: Getty Images)
“Say I was done with LIV at the end of this year and I got unceremoniously dumped out, what would I do?” he added. “Would I go back to the European Tour for a year, take up a year’s membership, and one of my exemptions there?
“Or would I make the jump into the media world?”
McDowell’s future is not the only one that has been questioned, with Koepka’s too seemingly in the air. The Smash captain was one of the big names to initially make the move to the breakaway league in 2022.
In recent months, Koepka has been linked with wanting to make a return to the PGA Tour following comments from fellow major champion Fred Couples. It is understood that the star’s current deal runs through the 2026 season.
And while he has every intention of fulfilling his contract, Koepka refused to outline where his future lies after that.
“I’ve got a contract obligation out here to fulfill, and then we’ll see what happens,” Koepka said in Singapore in March. “I don’t know where I’m going, so I don’t know how everybody else does.”
