LIV's McDowell considering DP World Tour return
Graeme McDowell says he is considering rejoining the DP World Tour to play the Irish Open, a move he hopes could help him reconnect with the European Ryder Cup team.
McDowell joined LIV Golf in 2022 [Getty Images] Graeme McDowell is considering rejoining the DP World Tour, with the Irish Open and next year's Ryder Cup in his sights. The 2010 US Open champion, from Northern Ireland, joined LIV Golf in 2022 and he admits the decision to align with the breakaway circuit has complicated his future with Europe's traditional golf structures. Last month, eight LIV golfers settled a long‑running dispute with the DP World Tour, striking a deal allowing them to play on both circuits.
They had been among a number players sanctioned by the DP World Tour for playing in LIV events. "I have my previous fines all paid off, but I'm sort of at a kind of zero level with the DP World Tour," McDowell, who has not played at the Irish Open since his switch to LIV, told BBC Sport NI. "There is a May date where you can approach the Tour and ask for a membership, which is at the discretion of the CEO.
"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.
" McDowell would do 'what I could' to be at next Ryder Cup McDowell's last appearance at the Ryder Cup was as a vice-captain in 2021 [Getty Images] The return of several golfers to the DP World Tour after making the switch to LIV highlights a shift in the relationship between the tours. To make a successful return the players had to pay their fines and agree to play in a minimum of six events, two of which are dictated by the DP World Tour and McDowell pointed to these examples as encouraging for the direction of travel. "We've seen guys come back to play events, and that feels like a compromise," the 46-year-old said.