Many LIV golfers cite money as a key reason for leaving the PGA and the DP World Tours. While the Saudi-backed league offers a lot of money, there are some things that LIV golfers miss. Graeme McDowell, a LIV Golf member since 2022, is a key voice on this topic. He recently listed a few things he misses, and Rory McIlroy’s name came up.

“Clearly I miss the Irish Open, I miss being able to play a few of those events in September and October like the Dunhill Links, events that I care about a lot, so I’ll certainly ask the question and see what that looks like for me,” Graeme McDowell told BBC Sports NI.

“I’d love to have the conversation with the DP World about the opportunity to go to Ireland and play with Rory [McIlroy] and Shane [Lowry] – that’s definitely something I miss.”

The 11x DP World Tour winner joined LIV Golf in 2022 and finished 10th in his debut in London. But since then, his presence on the European Tour has declined. He did play the 2022 BMW PGA Championship and the JP McManus Pro-AM, but nothing since 2023. This was because of the fines imposed on LIV golfers who wanted to play DP World Tour events. While LIV Golf handled the fines until 2025, McDowell didn’t play a single event there.

But last month, eight LIV golfers settled disputes by paying fines and agreeing to play at least six DPWT events in 2026. Although Jon Rahm declined, McDowell was one of the veterans who accepted the deal. He will make a comeback, playing at least six events on the DP World Tour this year.

He aims to play the 2026 Irish Open and the 2026 Alfred Dunhill Links. But besides that, he wants a chance to be at the 2027 Ryder Cup alongside Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry as a vice captain under Luke Donald.

Graeme McDowell competed in the 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2014 Ryder Cups for Europe. Overall, he has a record of 8 wins, 5 losses, and 2 halves across 15 matches for 9 points. Apart from that, he also served as vice-captain for Europe in the 2018 and 2021 Ryder Cups. In 2010 and 2012, he and Rory McIlroy were paired 6 times. Together, they achieved a score of 2 wins, 3 losses, and 1 tie.

On the other hand, McDowell has not played directly with Shane Lowry. However, Lowry was part of the European Team in 2021, when the 11-time DP World Tour winner served as vice-captain under Pádraig Harrington.

The time he shared with Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry is fueling his aspirations for a Ryder Cup role for 2027 at Adare Manor. However, the veteran golfer did acknowledge that it might not be possible.

“I’m happy with what I’m doing and I understand the reasons why the Ryder Cup may not happen in any shape or form. I’ve made my peace with that a little bit,” he said.

The Northern Irishman has been associated with LIV Golf since 2022. Thus, he is not an active member of the DP World Tour now. This has affected his eligibility to participate in the Ryder Cup in any form. While he is happy with where he is, he understands why the DP World Tour might not want him or any other veteran LIV golfer to act as a Ryder Cup captain or a vice captain.

Graeme McDowell knows why the Ryder Cup captaincy dream would not be fulfilled

Graeme McDowell expressed dejection over his exclusion from the 2025 European Ryder Cup team at Bethpage Black. When speaking on the 5 Clubs podcast, he said he’d root for them but that he recognized the politics were beyond his control. He had the same wish of being part of the Ryder Cup team back then, too.

However, taking the high road, he also admitted that LIV golfers should not be the captains.

“I get it, though. It wouldn’t make any sense to have a guy like me or [Ian] Poulter or [Lee] Westwood as a vice captain because we really don’t spend enough time with these guys anymore,” he said.

Most of the team members and captains on both the European and American teams play together regularly. They spend a lot of time together, which helps build rapport and trust. However, veteran LIV golfers, including Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter, and others, have not played much or spent much time on the DP World Tour since they joined the Saudi-backed league. This makes it challenging to build that level of trust.

While Graeme McDowell dreams of being part of the 2027 Ryder Cup, he also accepts the realities behind it. But despite acknowledging the facts, he still misses playing alongside Rory McIlroy and others.