GRAEME MCDOWELL IS considering rejoining the DP World Tour with a view to making his return to the Irish Open and, perhaps, the Ryder Cup at Adare Manor.
The 2010 US Open champion joined LIV Golf in 2022 and, in an interview with BBC Northern Ireland, McDowell indicated that he will next month explore the option of reintegrating himself into European golf’s more traditional structure.
Last month, eight LIV golfers settled a long‑running dispute with the DP World Tour, with a new deal allowing them to play on both circuits. They were among a number players sanctioned by the DP World Tour for competing at LIV events.
McDowell, who has not played at the Irish Open since his move to LIV, told the BBC that he had his own previous fines “all paid off”, and that he was at a “zero level with the DP World Tour”.
“There is a May date where you can approach the Tour and ask for a membership, which is at the discretion of the CEO,” added the Portrush man.
“At that point I’d ask them what they’d want me to do, how many events that might look like, and see if that is a workload that I’m willing to take.
“Clearly I miss the Irish Open, I miss being able to play a few of those events in September and October like the Dunhill Links, events that I care about a lot, so I’ll certainly ask the question and see what that looks like for me.
I’d love to have the conversation with the DP World about the opportunity to go to Ireland and play with Rory [McIlroy] and Shane [Lowry] – that’s definitely something I miss.
“If others can return, then perhaps there’s a path for me too,” McDowell added.
McDowell, who won 11 DP World Tour events as well as four PGA Tour events before his switch to LIV, said he still harbours ambitions of fulfilling a role for Team Europe at the Ryder Cup in Adare Manor next year.
However, the 46-year-old acknowledged that his defection from the DP World Tour in 2022 means that he doesn’t currently meet the criteria to join Luke Donald’s backroom team.
McDowell, who was a Ryder Cup vice captain in 2018 and 2021, said he has “made peace” with the likelihood that he won’t be appointed for a third time in 2017, but that he would “do anything to support the team” in Limerick in September 2027.
“Even if I was able to take my membership, I would still fall short of the rules that I haven’t been a continuing member of the DP World Tour now for the last three years, so I do fall short of that regulation, which I understand,” McDowell said.
“The rule has been around for a long time and that would have to change to open up that door for me to have the opportunity, but I obviously would be open to do what I could to be at Adare Manor next year.
“I understand bringing LIV players creates negative narratives that we don’t want and need there, but if the door is open I would do anything to support the team.
People will say that I don’t deserve to be there, I’ve made my bed, I should sleep in it, which is true – but I feel fortunate to have this opportunity to be out here on LIV competing, obviously for a lot of money against some good players on a good schedule.
“I’m happy with what I’m doing and I understand the reasons why the Ryder Cup may not happen in any shape or form. I’ve made my peace with that a little bit,” McDowell added.
“Of course I am disappointed, we are where we are. It’s just politically, I can’t believe four years later we’re still here, we’re still at such a contentious point when for the fans at home we need to bring the game back together in some way, shape or form. I think it’s the right thing for the game.”