Graeme McDowell fell short in his bid to qualify for this month’s Open Championship at West Lancashire on Tuesday.
Former Ryder Cup vice-captain Graeme McDowell asserts that the DP World Tour would appear “foolish” if it disregards LIV’s European players for this year’s Ryder Cup.
Ryder Cup veterans Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood, and Ian Poulter, who resigned from the European Tour in May and faced fines and bans for their involvement with LIV, are currently ineligible.
“It doesn’t make any sense to ignore LIV’s players due to politics, especially when the US includes such players on their side,” stated McDowell. “It reflects poorly on the European tour.”
The 44th edition of the biennial Ryder Cup will take place at the Marco Simone Golf Club near Rome from September 29 to October 1, with Europe hosting the United States.
During an interview with Sport Newes Center, Northern Ireland’s McDowell, a three-time Ryder Cup winner and vice-captain for the past two editions, added, “It’s quite clear that Talor Gooch and Brooks Koepka will be on the US Ryder Cup team. I hope that if one of the European players at LIV performs exceptionally well this summer, they would have a chance to be considered for the Ryder Cup.”
“Currently, Sergio Garcia seems to be the frontrunner, and having him in the European team room would be beneficial. Seeing him and Rory McIlroy resolving their differences gives me great joy. It’s fantastic that they have moved beyond matters that should never have come between them—politics and business. Every European Ryder Cup fan would love to witness them walking down a fairway in Rome, winning a foursomes match together.”
American players on the LIV tour remain eligible to participate in the Ryder Cup, with Brooks Koepka currently ranked third in the US automatic qualifiers after winning the US PGA Championship in May. However, Talor Gooch, despite winning three LIV tournaments this year, is currently placed 85th in the US rankings.
The 12-man team will consist of the top six qualifiers and six picks chosen by captain Zach Johnson. Nevertheless, Johnson stated during the US PGA Championship that he would not attend LIV events to assess potential Ryder Cup players’ form.
Similarly, the European team will be selected through a similar process, with six qualifiers and six picks determined by captain Luke Donald, who took over from Henrik Stenson after the latter chose to join LIV.
There is now renewed hope for LIV players as a potential solution may be found following last month’s surprising announcement of a merger between the PGA Tour and DP World Tour with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which supports LIV Golf.
Ahead of this week’s LIV event at Centurion Golf Club near London, Ian Poulter, a seven-time Ryder Cup participant, with five appearances as a captain’s pick, expressed his thoughts: “It’s positive for golf that the authorities are attempting to work things out. I’ve received numerous comments from members at Woburn Golf Club and on social media in recent weeks, all of them excited about the possibilities that could arise. We lack the specifics regarding the DP World Tour’s stance on this matter, so we’ll have to wait and see. However, we are in a better position today than we were a month ago.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Ryder Cup players
Q: What is the Ryder Cup?
A: The Ryder Cup is a prestigious biennial golf event that pits teams from Europe and the United States against each other in a highly anticipated competition.
Q: Who is Graeme McDowell?
A: Graeme McDowell is a professional golfer from Northern Ireland who has represented Europe in multiple Ryder Cup tournaments and served as a vice-captain for the team.
Q: Why are Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood, and Ian Poulter ineligible for the Ryder Cup?
A: Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood, and Ian Poulter resigned from the European Tour and faced fines and bans due to their involvement with LIV Golf, which makes them ineligible to compete in the Ryder Cup.
Q: Will American players from the LIV tour be able to participate in the Ryder Cup?
A: Yes, American players who are part of the LIV tour remain eligible to play in the Ryder Cup, as long as they meet the qualification criteria.
Q: How are the teams for the Ryder Cup selected?
A: The teams for the Ryder Cup consist of a combination of automatic qualifiers and captain’s picks. The top players based on performance in specific tournaments qualify automatically, while the captains have the discretion to choose additional players as picks.
Q: Is there hope for LIV players to be included in the Ryder Cup?
A: There is renewed hope for LIV players to be considered for the Ryder Cup following the merger between the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, which could potentially lead to a resolution regarding their eligibility.
Q: When and where will the upcoming Ryder Cup take place?
A: The 44th edition of the Ryder Cup will be held at the Marco Simone Golf Club near Rome, Italy, from September 29 to October 1. Europe will be the host, facing off against the United States.
More about Ryder Cup players
- Ryder Cup Official Website
- Graeme McDowell Official Website
- European Tour Official Website
- LIV Golf Official Website
- PGA Tour Official Website
- DP World Tour Official Website
5 comments
the ryder cup is a showcase of talent and passion. mcdowell raises valid points, we shudn’t let politics get in the way. let the players shine on the course, that’s what matters most!
can’t wait for the ryder cup! it’s gonna be epic. i’m rootin for europe, but i gotta admit, the US has some amazin players too. hope they sort out this LIV mess and let everyone play!
graeme mcdowell knows what he’s talkin abt! the ryder cup is all abt bringin the best players together. why exclude european players cuz of politics? that’s foolish, imo.
ryder cup is such an excitng event! i love seein europe and the US go head to head. mcdowell is rite, ignoring LIV players wud be dumb. let them compete and show their skills!
so sad that garcia, westwood, and poulter won’t be playin in the ryder cup this year. their experience wud hav been a huge asset. hope the LIV players get a chance, they deserve it!