McDowell becomes latest major champion to exit LIV

Graeme McDowell, the 2010 US Open champion, has confirmed he will not join LIV Golf’s planned 2027 relaunch, becoming the latest major winner to leave as the league’s future remains uncertain. His departure follows the loss of Saudi funding and a wave of exits by prominent players.

McDowell, 47, joined LIV when it launched in 2022 and won 11 times on the DP World Tour; his best LIV result was joint second in Virginia in 2025. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund had put more than $5bn into LIV before withdrawing support in April, and the league has since sought bankruptcy protection and secured possible financing of $300m. It must attract enough players to proceed with LIV 2.0, with a decision expected by the end of October; McDowell has discussed a possible return to the DP World Tour.