By Bernie McGuire, Riyadh
Like so many tournament venues, there is a ‘Road of Champions’ leading from the main entrance to the clubhouse at Riyadh Golf Club.
But Riyadh’s driveway is longer than normal and lined with seemingly dozens and dozens of posts sporting photographic banners of all the leading players teeing-up in the PIF Saudi International.
Among those whose images are on the banners is Graeme McDowell, proudly holding the trophy he won back in 2020, an hour’s drive north alongside the Red Sea in Jeddah, when it was a DP World Tour event prior to becoming one of the standout fixtures on the Asian Tour.
G-Mac’s win, which came in the second hosting of the event, was also his last tournament success.
“It’s always nice to come back to a tournament that you’ve won even though it may be a new course venue,” he said.
“Jeddah was a great venue and this is a first time in Riyadh, so it’s always exciting travelling to a new venue for a first occasion, and nice to come back to a tournament and see your picture on billboards and holding a trophy in your hands.
“It’s also reminds you coming back to tournaments like this that you also have won in some pretty cool places around the world and it’s been a pretty nice career.
“Actually, looking at that snap it also looks like I’ve lost a bit of weight since then.”
Though being the complete professional golfer McDowell is, it’s about more than just admiring photographs of yourself holding the stunning-looking PIF Saudi International trophy.
“Yes, and as with most players you are always looking for the next chapter in your career,” said McDowell.
“You’re always trying to get better. You still believe you are good enough to win anywhere around the world and I am still working pretty hard with what I do.
“I turned pro in 2002 and I will be moving into, what I guess, will be my 24th season next year, so it’s a great run.”
The former US Open winner continues to seek a first LIV Tour success and what would be his 17th career title since winning making his European Tour breakthrough at the Volvo Scandinavian Masters in 2002.
McDowell was asked in looking back on his 23rd season in the pro ranks how he would rate his year.
“I’d give myself a B plus this past year and thinking it was okay while it was my best LIV season,” he said.
“However, for a multitude of reasons I have struggled since joining the LIV Tour and while there is no point in getting into it all I have found it difficult getting into the format change. It’s just been hard in the transition of this LIV format.
“The three-round format doesn’t suit non-aggressive players and by definition I am more of a US Open style of a player.”
In saying that, McDowell indicated that there have been many suggestions from his fellow LIV golfers seeking a format change that would see LIV Golf move back to hosting the traditional four-round tournament.
“One of the great things about LIV is that it is a blank canvas and that LIV does listen to the players, and the important players on the tour of which there are many,” he said.
“So, there have been several suggestions put forward for competition in 2025 and moving to a 72-hole format is one of those suggestions.
“I don’t think we are going to 72-holes but then we are trying to work out how we can get better and better every year, and just like every other tour in the world.
“And if there was a vote for 72-holes I probably would vote [for it] if I was taking into consideration the most important thing and that is how I would be more competitive.
“Though I do enjoy the 54 holes. It makes for a lighter schedule. It makes for more time to prepare. It’s different and regardless of what you think of LIV as a fan … If it was 72 holes and you played every week for 52 weeks of the year it would be awfully boring.
“To me the majors are still the most important in the world. Still are and still would be. There is room still for very important 72 holes tournaments around the world but also there is still room for an alternate format. For instance, match-play and different stuff.
“To me, the most important stuff, and I am very happy with what I am doing. I am very happy with the decision I made. I am very happy. I am very happy heading next year into my fourth season on LIV. I have a great team in ‘Smash’. I am excited to be playing with them again next season.”
That’s great, positive news heading into 2025 as there was some uncertainty over McDowell’s LIV career and if he would be a member of the Smash team.
McDowell, like so many others following either side of the competition ropes, is not pleased with the way the ancient club-and-ball game is headed.
The game we all love, as McDowell says, is at an inflection point. ‘Inflection’ is defined in business terms as: “A time of significant change in a situation; a turning point. An example being ‘The economy has crossed an inflection point and is poised for bigger things’.
McDowell said: “I am disappointed where the game of golf is at right now because I love the game golf and I am very proud of what I have achieved in the sport and I want to see the game endure successfully for the next 50-years or so.
“We are at an inflection point in the sport where I believe we will be a healthier product globally due to the disruption to the sport right now. I do think that disruption is necessary in all industries.
“I just want the game to be healthier again and I want the fans to be given sweeter products where they can turn on the TV and watch the best players in the world playing in a compelling format.
“That is the key word right now and I think there is an epidemic in all sports right now where there is potentially too much all games now, and I am talking about the NFL, the NBA, Premier League football.
“They wear a badge on their chest but it’s not worth what it used to be worth. There’s no loyalty because of how much cash in sport and golf is obviously very susceptible to that, as well.
“Fans are turning on the TV and there not seeing the players caring enough about what they are doing, except for the majors.
“Look, guys care at all levels and I care every week, every day I tee it up out here but the fans know when it’s real and it’s not real.
“So, compelling golf products are those that continue to get the best players in the world and compete together more often. To me, the WGCs need to come back again in another format and that’s what I potentially see as the next step.
“The majors become hugely important because they are bringing everyone together four times a year but it’s not enough as the fans want to see more coming together.
“So, I see the need for something to sit at that level below the majors. The WGCs when they came on-line were very compelling but they then lost their mojo because it was just a guaranteed cheque and guys would just turn-up and just go through the motions, make a hundred grand and go home.
“They lost their shine but if they were to bring them back in a compelling way then they would be hugely interesting and to me they would be a nice holding pattern until we figure the rest of it out.
“Men’s pro golf is still just a big puzzle and where no-one knows how all the pieces all fit together.
“Fifteen PGA Tour events, 14 LIV events. That doesn’t work and Jon Rahm doesn’t want to play 29 times a year.”
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