LIV Golf pro plots return to Masters and The Open: "I miss the majors"

Former US Open champion Graeme McDowell has admitted he is desperate to return to golf's biggest stages. 

The 46-year-old was among the first wave of golfers to be recruited by the PIF-backed LIV Golf in 2022. 

He relinquished his DP World Tour and PGA Tour memberships and has not played in a major championship since. 

In fact, the 2020 Masters at Augusta National was the last time the Irishman teed it up in one of golf's big four.

McDowell could book his spot into next year's Masters and also The Open at Royal Birkdale next week. 

He is among 31 LIV Golf players to have entered the Hong Kong Open at Fanling Golf Club. 

The $2m tournament, part of the Asian Tour's International Series, will offer the champion tee times at next year's Masters and The Open at Royal Birkdale. 

"Would be amazing to win," McDowell told reporters of the Hong Kong Open. 

"I played the Masters in 2020, that was the last time I played a major. Obviously, I love what I'm doing, I love the LIV Golf schedule, but I do miss the big tournaments. 

"I miss the majors; I miss the access to those and obviously it's an amazing prize.

"There has been some great champions at Fanling and it is a golf course that I believe I can play well on and have played well in the past there

"So, clearly, I'll be going there next week ready to go and obviously I will be highly motivated."

Plenty of LIV Golfers have turned to the Asian Tour given they are prohibited from playing on the PGA Tour. 

The International Series' order of merit winner also secures a spot in the LIV Golf League. 

Some events form part of the Open Qualifying Series. 

McDowell added: "The International Series has been a fantastic addition, and it continues to go from strength to strength. 

"You'll see that in the strong field in Hong Kong, it is heavily represented by top LIV Golf players, and it is the same in Saudi Arabia – one of the best fields of the year outside the US.

"These pathways really matter, especially given the ongoing discussions around LIV Golf players and access to majors. 

"The International Series and the Asian Tour play a crucial role in strengthening those opportunities."

Bubba Watson confirms his season is over

Elsewhere, former Masters champion Bubba Watson has confirmed he will be out of competitive action for the rest of the year. 

Watson took to social media on 15 October to confirm that he has had surgery. 

The left-hander had a small lesion removed from his finger. 

Watson said that the small growth was causing him pain and making it difficult to grip a golf club properly. 

He has now withdrawn from the aforementioned Hong Kong Open. 

Sergio Garcia not giving up on Ryder Cup return

Sergio Garcia has confirmed that he has once again decided to give up his DP World Tour membership. 

The Spaniard quit the Tour in 2023 following his switch to LIV, but made a return late last year in his bid to make the European Ryder Cup team. 

Garcia did not do enough to convince captain Luke Donald to take him to Bethpage Black last month. 

And the former Masters champ did not play in the minimum number of DP World Tour events to retain his membership. 

Garcia would have met the requirement had he played in the Irish Open, but decided not to play at the K Club after missing out on making his 11th Ryder Cup appearance. 

He has now told our Andy Roberts exactly what was going through his mind.