Graeme McDowell perplexed (?!) with reporter's question at LIV Golf London

Graeme McDowell appeared a tad perplexed with a reporter's question about free agency before LIV Golf London at Centurion Club.

Ben Smith

05 Jul 2023

Graeme McDowell perplexed (?!) with reporter's question at LIV Golf London

Graeme McDowell appeared a tad stumped with a reporter's question about 'free agency' ahead of LIV Golf London.

Cast your mind back 12 months and McDowell was at Centurion Club involved in what was one of the most heated press conferences in recent memory.

The Northern Irishman resigned his PGA Tour membership 30 minutes before his tee time after facing uncomfortable questions about sportswashing, human rights abuses and greed.

McDowell admitted on Wednesday he took the early criticism about the breakaway tour far too personally. Perspective has changed that, he said.

More from LIV Golf London:

As mentioned, McDowell resigned his PGA Tour membership because he didn't want to get involved in the litigation.

Those legal matters are now resolved and cannot be revisited, per the 'framework agreement' that was announced before the 2023 U.S. Open.

But some professional golfers who joined LIV Golf claimed they shouldn't be punished by the established tours as they have a right operate as a free agent, playing when and where they like.

McDowell was asked how this is achieved when Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund at some point in the future could be 'running the golf show around the world'.

The 43-year-old stifled a laugh, gathered his thoughts and said:

"It's a great really big huge question that's very difficult to answer really. I don't think there's a guy in the golfing world that really knows what this all looks like.

"Yes, the PIF are going to become a very big investor in the global game of golf, and I think that that's good for the sport to have sort of that amount of money being directed into the sport across the board.

"I think what's happened the last 12 months and the fracturing of the game is not something we ever, ever wanted. It's been said by players on the PGA Tour and DP World Tours that if this money is going to be spent, let's work out how to all spend it together."

McDowell continued:

"To me, golf is the number one most important thing here. The fan is the next most important thing, and creating a schedule where the best players in the world compete, like I said, at a very, very high level as often as possible against each other with the team format kind of being sprinkled in there, as well, I think there's a lot of good there."

"What it all looks like, I have no idea. It's very difficult to answer.

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| Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter have opened up on their decisions not to try and qualify for the forthcoming Open. pic.twitter.com/xhvOwVbn0P
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Elsewhere, McDowell claimed the DP World Tour would look 'foolish' if they do not consider LIV's European players for the Ryder Cup.

He believes Sergio Garcia deserves to be in the side in Rome.

McDowell told BBC Sport:

"I read the stuff with him and Rory McIlroy and I'm super happy that those guys have moved on from stuff that shouldn't have come between them - politics and business."

"I'd love to see them walking down a fairway in Rome, winning a foursomes match together. I think that's what every European Ryder Cup fan wants."

GolfMagic's writers have already predicted who they will believe will be heading to the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club.

Take a look here

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