Who Is Graeme McDowell? As Smash GC Captain Brooks Koepka Grants Him a Lifeline, All There Is to Know About the 44-Year-Old LIV Golf Pro

2023 has been an eventful year of Golf. Take the Saudi-backed league for instance. And of course, at the center of it all was the dicey situation of the Brooks Koepka-led LIV Golf team. However, given what transpired during the recently concluded season, Koepka has decided to bring in another golfer, Graeme McDowell to the fray to replace his old squadmate.

With this new strategic move, including the transfer window, set by the Middle Eastern circuit, McDowell found himself becoming a part of the list of ‘free agents’ after the 2023 season. And this, in turn, helped Koepka sign the golfer into his Smash GC team. Needless to say, as the new season approaches, people are curious about the new signing and how he affects the squad.

Meet Graeme McDowell, the LIV golfer from Northern Ireland

McDowell had signed to the PIF-funded league in 2021 following its inception. The golfer then became a member of the All-European Cleeks GC in the inaugural season. Following a series of changes to the squad, he happened to play under the skipper Martin Kaymer, along with his teammates Richard Bland, and Bernd Wiesberger.

Boasting a total of 16 professional wins with 11 DP World Tour victories including a major, the 44-year-old professional was in line to become the Ryder Cup captain. However, his reputation took a hit after his defection to the Saudi-backed league following an initial deal for two years.

Asub-par performance in both years did not bode well for the Northern Irishman either as he found himself in danger of “losing a spot in the league.” Moreover, the 4X PGA Tour champ also found himself being a ‘free agent’ following the expiration of his contract, coupled with his placement at T42 in the 2023 standings inside the ‘Open Zone’. Things were looking rather bleak for McDowell for quite a while there but fate had other plans for him, as did the Smash GC skipper, thus effectively saving his LIV career.

Koepka calling in another person does not come off as a surprise either. The stories surrounding his ex-teammates were already famous in the community. And, this has inevitably led to the restructuring of his team.

The dicey situation of Brooks Koepka’s Smash GC

Two of the American Ryder Cup star’s squadmates found themselves in a peculiar situation after 2023. Matthew Wolff was placed at T27 in the season-ending leaderboard as part of the ‘Open Zone’. Although his contract did not end, the disagreement and the subsequent feud he experienced with his captain after the LIV Golf event in Washington owing to his withdrawal from the same led to the 24-year-old’s place in the squad uncertain.

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However, things did not end there for Smash GC as Chase Koepka, the skipper’s brother ended up in the ‘Drop Zone’ at T48. This led the golfer to be relegated out of the league for the next season in 2024 forcing the captain to take in McDowell to replace his own brother for the upcoming season.

With a drama-filled season in 2023, one can surely expect to see a lot more in the coming events in the Saudi-backed league. And, many would be looking to Brooks Koepka and his decision regarding the fourth member of his team, Wolff.

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