Tom McKibbin’s runaway win within the Hong Kong Open makes him the brand new poster boy for LIV Golf however what the long run holds for Graeme McDowell within the Ryder Cup stakes stays to be seen.
In going wire-to-wire at Fanling final week, the place he opened with a course file 60 and smashed the match scoring file en path to a seven-shot win, McKibbin earned a Masters debut and his third look in The Open.
The brand new world quantity 85 stays a member of the DP World Tour and a possible candidate for Ryder Cup choice at Adare Manor in 2027 as he joins Bethpage hero Shane Lowry and Masters champion Rory McIlroy on this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
The primary of the DP World Tour Playoffs gives McKibbin the possibility to make it to the season-ending DP World Tour Championship for the third 12 months operating and probably break into the world’s prime 50.
With the Masters and The Open already on his schedule and a spot within the 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink all however sewn up as a member of the world’s prime 100, McKibbin might make the US Open at Shinnecock Hills by being within the top-3 on LIV Golf early subsequent summer season or by breaking into the world’s prime 60.
As for McDowell (46) who didn’t arrive in Hong Kong till the eve of the occasion on account of golf day and missed the minimize by a shot, the Majors and the 2027 Ryder Cup captaincy stay properly out of attain for now.
Regardless of that, he’s taken each alternative to specific his want to be concerned at Adare Manor.
His aspirations are pie within the sky proper now as a result of a rule launched by the DP World Tour in 2018 says that gamers can’t be a captain or vice-captain for Europe if they’ve relinquished their membership in any given season.
By enjoying LIV occasions with no conflicting occasion launch, McDowell accrued fines of over Stg£1m.
He’s paid them off, however with a purpose to keep away from additional penalties, he has relinquished his DP World Tour membership.
Nonetheless, he continues to ship out smoke alerts, saying he’d like to be thought-about as a possible captain.
“It’s on my thoughts, however being sincere with you, I don’t know what to do about it,” McDowell instructed bunkered.co.uk in Hong Kong.
“I don’t know whether or not it needs to be on my thoughts in any respect, as in if it’s one thing that’s not attainable politically. If that’s the case, clearly I’ll be dissatisfied, however I’ll clearly perceive why.
“The world is the place it’s. Individuals will say I’ll get what I deserve, which, you understand, I’m probably not certain I completely agree with that, proper?
“Individuals will say I don’t deserve it and I’m accountable for lots of what’s occurred. However I’m a really, very small cog on this huge wheel.”
McDowell considerably disingenuously claims that the “divisiveness” created by LIV has come from “the most effective gamers on the earth” and never “the 40-somethings like myself which can be simply attempting to eke out a dwelling…”
How a lot he was paid to enroll in LIV stays undisclosed, although figures of between $20–$40 million have been talked about in reviews.
He went on to say the supply “would have been loopy to say no to from a enterprise perspective” however whether or not that may fly with the powers at Wentworth is one thing of a stretch, even when Luke Donald opts in opposition to a 3rd stint as skipper and the subsequent most evident candidate, Justin Rose, feels able to enjoying once more.
“So it’s form of like, ‘who’s it going to be?’ And why couldn’t or not it’s me?” McDowell mused.“I’d like to be the olive department that probably places a few of this again collectively once more.”
The injury LIV Golf prompted the DP World Tour stays an enormous stumbling block, bar some as-yet-unforeseen ‘rapprochement’ between the Saudi-funded circuit and Wentworth.
In July 2019, McDowell was thought-about a possible captaincy candidate when Adare was awarded the matches, initially slated for 2026.
He readily admits that it will be “presumptuous” to place his hat within the ring however nonetheless plans to make some calls “and see the place the world stands.”
“It might be the best second of my life to face there at Adare Manor because the Ryder Cup captain,” he mentioned. “I’d like to do it. It’d be particular.”
It might be a seismic about-turn for the DP World Tour however whereas issues do change, LIV Golf stays a tour unsanctioned by the Official World Golf Rankings.
Yesterday, LIV introduced that in addition to two playing cards awarded to the main two participant within the Asian Tour’s Worldwide Collection, gamers who tee it up in its annual Promotions Occasion, scheduled for Black Diamond Ranch in Florida from January 8-11, might be enjoying for 2 LIV Golf playing cards in 2026.
LIV Golf’s software for rating factors was denied by the OWGR in 2023 on account of its closed-shop nature however having reapplied for factors final June, a change of coronary heart by the rating physique might probably sign a change of coverage amongst the sport’s energy brokers that modifications McDowell’s future.
