Graeme McDowell has not been part of the European Ryder Cup team since joining LIV Golf three years ago, including this time at Bethpage Black
Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy celebrate with the Ryder Cup in 2014(Image: INPHO/Cathal Noonan)
Graeme McDowell stood amongst Europe’s finest performers as he featured in four Ryder Cups spanning 2008 to 2014.
The Portrush man contributed to Europe’s triumphs in 2010, 2012, and 2014, accumulating nine points across 15 matches, boasting an outstanding 60 per cent success rate.
McDowell subsequently served as vice-captain under Thomas Bjorn’s victorious squad in 2018 and Padraig Harrington’s defeated team in 2021, but since his move to LIV Golf three years ago GMac has been absent from the European Ryder Cup setup, including for this occasion at Bethpage Black.
The Northern Irishman has revealed his thoughts regarding Luke Donald’s choice to omit LIV golfers from his backroom team as he, Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson, and Lee Westwood would all be natural candidates for Ryder Cup captain or vice-captain positions were it not for their commitment to LIV Golf.
This might appear severe, given the dedication and energy they have invested in the tournament throughout the years, yet McDowell harbours no resentment as he recognises that he lacks sufficient connection with the majority of current players following his departure from the PGA and European Tours.
“I miss it. I miss being part of that ecosystem. I miss being part of the Ryder Cup culture,” McDowell revealed to Smylie Kaufman.
“I get it, though. It wouldn’t make any sense to have a guy like me or [Ian] Poulter or [Lee] Westwood as a Ryder Cup vice captain because we really don’t spend enough time with these guys anymore.
“Being on the LIV tour, we don’t get a chance to go back and play the European Tour very often. And there’s a huge amount of trust and communication that you need with these players to be able to have them trust you, to have them know that you’ve got their back.
“As much as I would love to be there next week and be one of Luke’s vice captains, I also get it. I understand that there’s a lot more to it than just having a lot of experience and a lot of things to be able to tell the guys.
“They have to trust you, too. That means being there and playing and being in the European tour and being part of that group and obviously spending some time with these guys over the last couple of years.”
McDowell relished his role as vice-captain for the European Ryder Cup squad on both occasions, though nothing compares to actually competing in the tournament.
He confessed that both he and Matt Kuchar were desperate to be playing during the 2018 Ryder Cup, particularly given that Le Golf National was perfectly suited to their style of play.
“I was a vice-captain twice, when Thomas [Bjorn] was captain, and then I talked about Whistling Straits earlier when Padraig Harrington was the captain, and those were great experiences as well,” McDowell continued.
“It’s a bit surreal standing to the side and watching. I remember Matt Kuchar and I were at Le Golf National at the French Ryder Cup, and if there’s a golf course… I’d won two French Opens on that golf course, and Kuchar had played well there, too.
“I remember Kuchar and me standing on the side of one of the tee boxes looking at each other going, ‘You and I could have had a pretty good tussle around here. This would be our type of golf course’.”
