Where were Graeme McDowell’s clubs? The 2010 U.S. Open champion arrived at the 64th Hong Kong Open ready to chase one more great week, but his golf bag did not. What was supposed to be a comeback stage for the 46-year-old LIV golfer quickly turned into a frustrating lesson in timing and fate.

The Irishman, who hasn’t played a major since the 2020 Masters, had been eyeing a way back to big-league golf. “I miss the Majors, I miss the access to those and obviously it’s an amazing prize,” McDowell had said ahead of the $2 million event. But when his luggage failed to make it to the course on time, his return plans unraveled before the first tee shot.

Instead of venting, McDowell took the setback with surprising acceptance. Reflecting on the chaotic start, he admitted, “I probably got what I deserved.” For a player once defined by precision and poise, the irony wasn’t lost. The clubs that once made him a major champion had simply vanished when he needed them most.

In the opening round, McDowell shot a 1-under par 69, which was respectable but left him far behind fellow Northern Irish golfer Tom McKibbin. “I actually had a golf day in Florida on Monday that I had scheduled badly, which meant that I wasn’t scheduled to land here until 5 am Wednesday morning”, explained McDowell. As McDowell made his return to the majors after five long years, and the lead-up to the event caused unseen disruptions, he wasn’t as sharp as other players in the field.

Graeme McDowell later explained the chaos that hit him just before tee time, “Flights were all on time, landed Wednesday morning, and my luggage didn’t show up. Brian [O’Donovan], the local pro here, let me borrow his set yesterday. The airport actually hadn’t located my bags at that point, they didn’t know where they were. So I obviously was preparing myself mentally that I may have to play with a random set of clubs today.” This indeed affected his game play in the $2million International Series event. 

It wasn’t the kind of warm-up the 2010 U.S. Open champion had envisioned. Competing for a share of the $2 million purse at the International Series Hong Kong, McDowell was already on the back foot before the first swing.

Thankfully, help arrived just in time. “Kenny [Comboy], my caddie, went to the airport and picked them up by hand,” McDowell revealed. The ordeal may have thrown off his rhythm, but the 46-year-old is taking it in stride, determined to turn the frustration into fuel. Beyond this week, McDowell also hinted at where his focus lies next: helping Europe in future Ryder Cup campaigns.

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Graeme McDowell eyes a Ryder Cup return 

After the 2025 Ryder Cup, Graeme McDowell did not hold back his disappointment. The Northern Irishman spoke candidly about what he saw as a step too far from the American crowd. “You start personally attacking the players about their personal life, about their family and kids, their physical appearances … clearly it seems (the fans) went beyond that line”, shared McDowell to clearly state his opinion on the matter. Yet, amid the frustration, his loyalty to Team Europe stood out

The 46-year-old Northern Irishman, coming back from a five-year-long break from majors, expressed his desire to be a part of the event and play for Europe. His devotion to Team Europe shone bright while he shared how he is waiting to don the team jersey again and play in the Ryder Cup. “I hope to be there. I feel like I have something to give back”, he stated.

Expressing his support for Team Europe, he added,  “I wish Team Europe all the best at Bethpage Black. I will be pulling for them every shot and wish I was there.” Now that Graeme McDowell is looking to be back in the majors in full force, fans would surely wait to witness if McDowell actually managed to put on the Team Europe jersey and step on the course in the 2027 Ryder Cup.