McDowell has 'something to give back' to Ryder Cup

Three-time Ryder Cup winner Graeme McDowell says he has not given up hope of being involved for Europe in the future.

Having played on four teams and twice served as vice-captain, the 47-year-old Northern Irishman was tipped as a future European captain before his controversial switch to LIV Golf in 2022.

The latest edition of the biennial contest against the United States takes place at Bethpage Black in New York from 26-28 September, while Adare Manor in Ireland will host the 2027 event.

"Jon Rahm asked me earlier this year if I was asked to be a vice-captain at Bethpage Black would I accept it. I replied if they asked me to make coffees for you - I would go and make coffees," said McDowell, who famously holed the winning putt at Celtic Manor in 2010.

"That's how much it means to me and how much I want to be there in a supporting role for Team Europe.

"It goes without saying as we look towards Adare Manor in two years' time I would do anything to be in that European team room, to be part of that team, to put that team Europe shirt on one more time, to have the badge on my chest, to cheer the guys on and help Europe win another Ryder Cup. I hope to be there."

The former US Open champion added: "I feel like I have something to give back.

"I wish Team Europe all the best at Bethpage Black - I will be pulling for them every shot and wish I was there, but the politics is a lot of levels above what I do, it's definitely the powers that be that will figure this out for us."

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After the framework agreement in 2023, a long-awaited deal between the PGA Tour and Saudi Public Investment Fund to sort the divide in men's professional golf seems no closer to resolution.

While McDowell admits it is taking longer "than we all ever imagined", he is optimistic about the future.

"There's a healing process that needs to happen - how long that takes I don't know," he said.

"The politics of the game of golf eventually have to get figured out and we have some good people at the helm - a new chief executive at the PGA Tour (Brian Rolapp) and Scott O'Neil, our chief executive at LIV. They are great guys and great relationship builders.

"The best players in the world need to play together more often - that is the headline. Rory (McIlroy) doesn't want to play 25 times a year, so you only have a certain number of weeks to take the best players and put them together - outside of the four majors.

"LIV is trucking along. The product continues to get better and better. A lot of people maybe don't love it yet, but looking from the inside I think we are doing a better job every season."

McDowell 'expects' LIV return in 2026

In his third season with LIV, McDowell helped Smash finish fourth in the team championship - and the former world number four is hopeful of remaining on the breakaway circuit in 2026.

"It's TBD (to be decided), there's work to be done over the next two months to confirm my contract," he said.

"I have conducted myself well, played well enough, and gave myself a chance to win in Virginia, but the consistency hasn't been there.

"I expect to be back again with LIV. The main thing is I feel highly motivated to try and win. I haven't had a chance to pick up a trophy in LIV yet individually and that's the goal moving into next year."

McDowell, who worked as a TV pundit at this year's Open Championship at Royal Portrush, considered playing at next week's Irish Open but opted not to make an appearance at the K Club.

"If I thought I wasn't playing LIV in 2026, the DP World Tour is something I would transition back into to give myself one or two last seasons to see if I still have it or not," he said.

"I decided I didn't want to play there this year because I didn't want to go and make up the numbers, I didn't want to go there with no other reason but just to play another Irish Open.

"I like to play with a bigger picture and a bigger goal in mind."