Former Major Champion Graeme McDowell Reveals One Thing He Regrets About Joining LIV Golf

Graeme McDowell was among one of the first defectors who left the PGA Tour to play on LIV Golf.

Former Major Champion Graeme McDowell Reveals One Thing He Regrets About Joining LIV Golf

Graeme McDowell (Image via Sky Sports)

In the past few weeks, LIV Golf has been in the center stage with the Public Investment Fund (PIF) pulling its plug on their funding. Ahead of the LIV Golf Virginia event, former major champion Graeme McDowell revealed one thing he regrets about joining the breakaway tour.

The Northern Irish golfer was one of the first few names to resign from the PGA Tour and play in the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational Series in London in 2022. In 2023, he played in all 14 events while representing the Cleeks GC.

After finishing 42nd in the individual standings, he was not re-signed by the team. He then joined Smash GC and has been playing with them since.

This week, the LIV Golf schedule shifts to the Trump National. This will be the first event of the breakaway tour since a change in leadership was confirmed last week.

Ahead of the event, McDowell opened up about his jump to them. In an interview with Bob Harig of Sports Illustrated, the 2010 U.S. Open winner claimed that he was considering a career in TV before LIV called him to play for them.

It was during this that the 46-year-old revealed what he regretted about joining LIV Golf. At the time, he and several other golfers claimed they had joined LIV to grow the game. The golfer regrets saying this and claims he should have told the truth and that he joined for the money.

I regret a few things I said in the beginning, stuff like growing the game. I should have just said it for what it was: this is good for my bank account, and I’m getting a runway to play the game of golf for as long as I possibly can.

Graeme McDowell said as per Bob Harig of Sports Illustrated

Following their establishment, LIV Golf dished out some huge 9-figure contracts to bring in some of the high-profile names. According to reports, Tiger Woods was offered a deal in the region of $700 to $800 million. The 15-time major champion stayed loyal to the tour and turned down this offer.

In October 2023, Brooks Koepka also opened up about his move and revealed that the money played a huge part in it. The former World No.1 had joined the league in a deal reported to be around $130 million.

He has since returned to the tour. After leaving LIV Golf in December 2025, he got reinstated to the PGA Tour in January this year through the Returning Member Program.

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Graeme McDowell claims he is sad with some LIV Golf critics who want the league to fail

Ever since their formation, LIV Golf has received several flaks with many criticizing them. With some dark clouds over their future, many have taken a shot at them once again. Graeme McDowell is unhappy with these critics who want to see the league fail.

Graeme McDowell
Graeme McDowell (Image via New York Post)

Last week, insider Brandel Chamblee launched another verbal attack on LIV Golf. The 63-year-old expressed that the Saudi-backed tour had tilted the game towards “greed.” In the end, he claimed it was a good riddance to see the PIF withdrawing their funding.

In the conversation with Sports Illustrated, McDowell claimed that those hating on them and wanting the league to fail was “sad” on some levels.

There are people who hate this, hate this produce product with passion, and they can’t wait for it to fail. I partly get it, and I partly don’t get it. It’s a little sad on some levels.

Graeme McDowell added

Speaking of McDowell, he is 33rd in the LIV Golf Individual standings this season. His best finish came at the LIV Golf Hong Kong event, where he finished T8. In the past two events in South Africa and Mexico City, he has struggled a bit and finished T53 and T52, respectively.

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