Graeme McDowell, the popular Northern Irish golfer and his future are still a big mystery. Although he has been a member of LIV Golf for two years, the 45-year-old is frustrated with the happenings on the golf scene, as he wants to play in the Majors. Considering that the Saudi-backed Tour has not yet been awarded with Official World Golf Rankings points, his fate is a big mystery.
Coming to the ‘Billionaire Tour,’ the defectors expected that the leaders of this Tour would quickly solve the problem and have access to OWGR points. However, two years after the creation of LIV, not much has changed.
In an interview with the media, the US Open champion stressed that it is frustrating that rebel players do not have the right to play at the Majors. LIV leaders are giving their best, trying to find an adequate solution, but without much optimism.
The Northern Irishman seems especially frustrated because individuals from the PGA Tour get exempt for Majors. LIV Golfers cannot expect the same treatment. Is McDowell potentially thinking about another option besides LIV Golf?
“It’s disappointing not to have more access to the majors,” McDowell said, as quoted by Mirror.
“LIV are working really hard behind the scenes to continue to get us access to the major events which I believe we deserve access to them.
Whether that be winners out here or top five in the money list, not already exempt. I’m hoping they’re going to come to us with some pretty good news. Fingers crossed. If you win on the PGA Tour you get exempt for various majors. You’re telling me a win out here is not similar… people will believe it is not of similar stature but I believe it is, if not better than some PGA Tour events.”
The breakaway tour changed the fate of many after arriving on the golf scene, and the greatest consequences were felt by individuals who ‘escaped’ from the PGA Tour to LIV. Golfers on this Tour believe that the OWGR is not a true indicator of the quality of a golfer or the success of a golfer. McDowell believes that this kind of treatment from OWGR actually shows that the leaders of OWGR do not appreciate what LIV Golfers are doing.
“World rankings don’t reflect that anymore because our world rankings are just getting pummelled because we’re not getting any credit for what we’re doing.”-he continued.
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In March last year, Graeme revealed that he has no regrets about joining the Saudi-backed Tour, feeling it was the right place for him. He admitted that he is not happy with the current situation on the golf scene, but he is aware that he, as an individual, cannot change much.
Fans of this sport believe that leaders from both sides should work for the good of this sport. Although most golf fans are not happy with LIV Golf, they seem to have accepted the merger as the only option for progress.
The Northern Irish golfer is trying to be optimistic, hoping that things will get much better soon. Is there a chance for such a thing? Looking at the negotiations between the PIF and the PGA Tour, the general impression is that both sides have a hard time crossing over their principles and have views that they do not want to change lightly.
“Certainly no regrets,” he said. I don’t have any personal regrets. I hate where the game is right now, and that’s obviously not necessarily on me; that’s just with the powers that be within the game of golf.
I think ultimately we’re going to come out the other side of this with the game of golf in great shape.”
The US Open champion, even though he is not part of the business, has a lot of experience that helps him better understand current events. Graeme admits that beginnings are always difficult, especially when you are doing things that are not in line with what individuals are used to. The 35-year-old feels that LIV can be the initiator of changes in the future. Are they on track for that? In some moments it seems like they are, while in others it feels like they are taking the wrong steps.
“I think in any business there’s always disruption, inevitably there’s going to be disruption. And I think LIV has been a very healthy disruptor to a sport that the business model was slightly wrong and I think things needed to change.
Unfortunately, change can be painful, but I think we’re through a lot of the pain now. There’s no doubt it was difficult at the beginning, especially being one of the original guys who were involved in the original push if you like when we had to go against the grain a little bit.
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