McDowell opens up on McIlroy relationship that has survived LIV Golf turmoil

28 July 2023 , 16:34

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McDowell opens up on McIlroy relationship that has survived LIV Golf turmoil

Graeme McDowell has opened up on his relationship with long-time friend Rory McIlroy, after the pair found themselves on opposite sides of the ugly dispute between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.

McDowell became one of the big names to join the breakaway circuit last summer, and competes for Cleeks GC alongside fellow Europeans Richard Bland, Bernd Wiesberger and Martin Kaymer on the breakaway circuit. The same can not be said for fellow Northern Irishman McIlroy though.

The four-time major champion has been one of LIV Golf's biggest critics, having remained loyal to the PGA Tour throughout the year-long dispute.

His Irish teammate Shane Lowry has shared similar views, but despite this LIV star McDowell has claimed he still remains 'very close' with the PGA Tour pair. Per BBC Sport, the Cleeks GC star said: "Myself, Rory and Shane are very close and remain very close and have done through this process.

"I haven't seen the guys so that's the problem because of the way the schedules are. I've been in one part of the world but remain in contact, always looking out for them and always pulling for both of them and I think the same from their side as well."

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McDowell went on to reveal that he met up with both McIlroy and Lowry prior to last week's Open Championship. This comes after it appeared that hostilities between the rival tours had come to an end, after the PGA Tour reached a shock agreement with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF).

Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy are still close friends (Getty)

The deal is set to see the Tour work alongside LIV Golf, as well as the DP World Tour under one entity named 'NewCo'. Despite the easing of tension and his friendship, it appears McIlroy has no plans to join McDowell on the breakaway circuit any time soon.

On the back of the proposed merger, McIlroy claimed he would rather retire than join LIV Golf. Speaking at this month's Scottish Open, he said: "If LIV Golf was the last place to play golf on earth I would retire. That's how I feel about it."

This came weeks after McIlroy claimed that he 'hated' LIV Golf at the RBC Canadian Open when discussing the framework agreement. "It's not LIV. That's the thing. I still hate LIV,” he said. “Like, I hate LIV. I hope it goes away, and I would fully expect that it does. That's where the distinction here is. This is the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour and the PIF. Very different from LIV."

Joshua Lees