Graeme McDowell was a part of the first wave of pros to join LIV Golf in 2022. It wasn’t like he was finding it difficult to adjust to the PGA Tour atmosphere. In fact, the Northern Irishman had found quite a lot of success playing there during the early stages of his career. But as he entered his 40s, he knew joining LIV Golf would be the most financially beneficial and least stressful step he could take in his career. Despite that, there are some things he still regrets since moving away from the PGA Tour. McDowell expressed this during a recent interview.

Speaking to the Irish Golfer, the 46-year-old had a lot to say about his time in LIV Golf. But one thing he felt was negative about the league was the lack of opportunities to play in big tournaments. He said, “I played the Masters in 2020, that was the last time I played a major. Obviously, I love what I’m doing; I love the LIV Golf schedule, but I do miss the big tournaments. I miss the majors, I miss the access to those, and obviously it’s an amazing prize.”

His last Masters Tournament appearance was in 2021, when Hideki Matsuyama lifted the title. It’s not that he has a particularly great record at Augusta National. McDowell’s best finish on the iconic course was a T12 way back in 2012. However, he’s not unfamiliar with performing well in the majors. In fact, the Smash GC pro also won the 2010 U.S. Open while finishing as a runner-up in 2012. Unfortunately, due to the restrictions in LIV Golf, McDowell is unable to qualify for the majors anymore, even if he performs well in the league. But he was still grateful for where he was.

“The International Series has been a fantastic addition, and it continues to go from strength to strength. You’ll see that in the strong field in Hong Kong, it is heavily represented by top LIV Golf players, and it is the same in Saudi Arabia (for the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers) – one of the best fields of the year outside the U.S. These pathways really matter, especially given the ongoing discussions around LIV Golf players and access to majors. The International Series and the Asian Tour play a crucial role in strengthening those opportunities.”

Despite the missed opportunities, McDowell is still appreciative of the ones he’s getting after being associated with LIV Golf. He can still participate in the International Series and the Asian Tour. And some of the events there host the best players in the world, including LIV Golf. That gives the Irishman the opportunity to compete at the highest level once again. At the 2024 PIF Saudi International, Joaquin Niemann put on a show, outdueling Cameron Smith for the win. Fans can expect another thrilling contest this year. McDowell says he’s eager to be part of the action.

Having said that, the gateway to majors is still not closed for the Northern Irishman yet. Despite representing LIV Golf, Graeme McDowell can still qualify for majors in the near future. And he knows exactly what he needs to do to achieve that dream again.

How can Graeme McDowell still qualify for majors in 2026?

Graeme McDowell’s dreams of playing in the Masters Tournament once again might come true. In the process, he might also earn a ticket to The Open Championship. Back in August 2025, the R&A confirmed that they had extended their qualification criteria to LIV Golf pros as well. Albeit not directly, as they stated that winners of the National Opens will earn a ticket to The Open Championship that follows. Augusta National also included the same clause in its qualification criteria for the Masters Tournament.

That means anyone who wins the Scottish Open, Spanish Open, Japan Open, Hong Kong Open (Asian Tour), Australian Open, and South African Open will earn an exemption for The Open Championship and the Masters Tournament for the next year. With a couple of those events still pending, if Graeme McDowell still manages to win them, then he could realize his dream as early as 2026.