Not for the first time since joining LIV Golf, Graeme McDowell’s playing future is in doubt.
After being handed a lifeline by Brooks Koepka at Smash GC for this season on the Saudi backed breakaway circuit, McDowell is facing an uncertain winter with the Irish Mirror reporting that he has yet to be offered a contract renewal for the 2025 LIV Golf League.
McDowell, 45, ended the 2024 season in the Open Zone meaning he is a free agent until the start of the new campaign.
McDowell joined LIV Golf in 2022 but has registered just four top-10 finishes across his three seasons.
Despite having his best season to date on the tour, with three top-8 finishes to place 29th in the overall standings, it remains uncertain whether he will tee it up on the tour next season.
Last November, McDowell was in hot water when his two-year deal with the Cleeks expired following a poor season where he finished 42nd on the overall leaderboard placing him in no mans land with just the top-24 retaining their status.
It seems unlikely that McDowell will be handed a second reprieve by Koepka or another team – potentially a return to the Clerks after Kalle Samooja was relegated – which begs the question, where will the 2010 US Open champion play next year?
Last week it was revealed that nine LIV golfers had obtained membership of the DP World Tour for the 2025 season, which got underway last week. McDowell was not part of that cohort which included 2017 Masters champion Sergio Garcia and Jon Rahm.
The Portrush native can play on the Asian Tour and try to play his way back to LIV Golf via the International Series.
It is highly unlikely that he will play in the second LIV Golf Promotions Event – which Irish Golfer Magazine understands that Matthew McClean and Alex Maguire are competing in – because he has until February of next year to secure a LIV team spot.
McDowell should remain hopeful of being retained by Koepka at Smash GC whom he joined forces with to create the Smash Racing syndicate as they took ownership of Givemefive which raced in the WillowWarm Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Saturday.
Givemefive is a big hopeful for the upcoming Cheltenham Festival in March which will clash with the LIV Golf Singapore event, the fourth event of the schedule of which McDowell will hope to be a part of.