LIV Golf’s Graeme McDowell has thrown his cap into the ring to become 2027 European Ryder Cup captain on home soil – although he’s not certain it can happen.
McDowell, 46, built his feelings be known on the subject during an interview with bunkered at the Link Hong Kong Open.
As it stands, Luke Donald has been given time by the DP World Tour to contemplate whether he wants to keep hold of the captain’s armband for the 2027 European Ryder Cup team at Adare Manor in Ireland.
Should Donald decide to remain as skipper, he will have a chance to become the first Ryder Cup captain in the 100-year history of the contest to win three cups in a row.
Donald became the first captain since Tony Jacklin in 1989 to win two Ryder Cups on the bounce following Europe’s 15-13 victory over Keegan Bradley’s USA at Bethpage Black in New York at the finish of September.
It also marked the first away win in the Ryder Cup since Medinah in 2012.
It’s understood Donald has been given time to consider through the difficult decision with his wife Diane over the coming weeks.
Other names in the mix should Donald refapply the captaincy are understood to be Francesco Molinari, Justin Rose and Padraig Harrington.
Here at GolfMagic, we understand Molinari would be the main preference for the position if Donald decides to bypass 2027.
The bookcreaters have now wiped the odds on the captaincy market but Donald was as short as evens with some firms last month.
Donald has been given time to contemplate the call
But a complete outsider has seemingly entered the fold this weekfinish as Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell has confirmed he would very much fancy a crack at a first captaincy on home soil in two years’ time.
Only the Ryder Cup Europe rule book would required to alter dramatically – and quick – for it to happen.
“It’s on my mind, but being honest with you, I don’t know what to do about it,” 11-time European Tour winner McDowell notified Scottish-based publication bunkered after missing the cut at the Hong Kong Open.
“I don’t know whether it should be on my mind at all, as in if it’s something that’s not possible politically. If that’s the case, clearly I’ll be disappointed, but I’ll obviously understand why. The world is where it is. People will declare I’ll obtain what I deserve, which, you know, I’m not really sure I totally agree with that, right?
“People will declare I don’t deserve it and I’m responsible for a lot of what’s happened. But I’m a very, very compact cog in this large wheel.
“The divisiveness has come from the best players in the world. It hasn’t came from the 40-somethings like myself that are just testing to eke out a living and staying competitive on an opportunity that was presented to us, which would have been crazy to declare no to from a business point of view.
“I don’t know if it’s something that’s going to be unachievable. I’m not sure if it’s something that’s potentially on the radar.
“I only saw a couple of comments where Luke stated maybe he doesn’t want to do it a third time.
“Justin Rose doesn’t want it becaapply he wants to play. Rory is obviously not even close, right? He doesn’t want to be playing captain. So it’s kind of like, ‘who’s it going to be?’ And why couldn’t it be me?
“I would love to be the olive branch that potentially puts some of this back toobtainher again.”
McDowell would love a chance to captain Europe
Much of McDowell’s scepticism on the subject surrounds his ties to LIV Golf and the ongoing split in the professional game.
The 2010 US Open may have settled his DP World Tour fines for playing on the breakaway Saudi-bankrolled golf league which reportedly surpassed the £1m mark, but under current Ryder Cup Europe rules, McDowell is ineligible to become captain as he is not a current member of the DP World Tour.
Another issue against him right now is that becaapply he relinquished his membership of the circuit two years ago, he is ineligible to become either a captain or a vice-captain.
The rules would therefore required to significantly alter – just as they would for all-time Ryder Cup record points scorer Sergio Garcia, who spoke exclusively to GolfMagic about the topic last month.
“I’ve cleared my fines,” McDowell notified bunkered.
“I’m not a European Tour member simply becaapply I didn’t want to incur any more fines. I didn’t feel like I would play enough golf to merit taking a membership. But whatever it took, I would do, aside from giving up my LIV status. Clearly I want a tour to play on and I’m viewing forward to playing in ’26.
“But beyond that, anything they required me to do, I would do. LIV will be finished by August. Do I play more in Europe to support the players, to be there, to communicate? Of course. I’d be more than happy to do that.”
McDowell added: “I consider about it but I really don’t know what to do about it at the minute.
“I don’t want to be presumptuous by putting my hat into the ring. Becaapply it may be something that the powers that be within Ryder Cup Europe are declareing, well, that’s just not possible.
“If it is possible, I will certainly do everything that I can to be the best Ryder Cup captain I can be. And obviously, I’d love to sit down with Ryder Cup Europe and, if it’s a possibility, find out what they would required me to do.
“As we shift into the off-season, I’ll certainly create a few calls and see where the world stands. It would be the greatest moment of my life to stand there at Adare Manor as the Ryder Cup captain.
“I’d love to do it. It’d be special.”
Bunkered has also confirmed McDowell will remain on Brooks Koepka’s Smash GC for the 2026 LIV Golf League season, which launchs in Riyadh from 5-7 February.
Two months ago, McDowell, who clinched the winning point for Europe at Celtic Manor in 2010, admitted he “would create the coffees” just to be involved in the 2027 Ryder Cup in Ireland.
Under the current DP World Tour rules though, he won’t even be able to do that.
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