LIV Golf player Graeme McDowell believes the future of men’s professional golf is bright and expects the schism in the sport to be healed very soon.
Talks over a merger deal between the PGA Tour and PIF, the bankrollers of LIV Golf continue to progress with the involvement of US President Donald Trump injecting renewed hope that a peace agreement can be reached to bring the best players in the world together on a regular basis.
“I’m really excited that things are going on to try and repair the damage that’s been done and bring the best players in the world back together more often,” McDowell, who has played on LIV Golf since its inception in 2022, told BBC Sport Northern Ireland.
“That’s the key really, for the fans, for the sponsors and for TV, having the best players in the world coming together more often I think is something we all want.
“What that means and what that looks like is something we don’t know but I think everyone is very optimistic and hopefully the future of golf is bright.”
McDowell was speaking to BBC Sport after he and 2011 Open winner Darren Clarke had holes on the Valley Links at Royal Portrush named after them.
The Open Championship returns to Portrush this July with G Mac facing a stiff battle to earn his place in the field where he finished T57 in 2019.
The 45-year-old has not made a major championship appearance since 2020 but this is a stat he is desperate to change as he bids for a return to his hometown.
McDowell has tried in vein to qualify for both the Open and US Open in recent years but chances to book a spot in the Claret Jug field will come via the Asian Tour’s International Series with the first event in Macau next month where there qualifying places are available.
“I’ve got a busy enough six months coming up but the Major championships remain the most important events in the world,” added the 2010 US Open champion.
“I’ve done all I can in the past three or four years to qualify for the Open and the US Open via the different routes and with the Open being at Portrush this year, it cranks up the intensity a little bit higher for me.
“I’m looking all over the world to see where there might be an opportunity and trying to go that extra mile to try and get into that tournament.”
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