Graeme McDowell might be coming towards the latter stages of his incredible golf career but he’s been forced into action after coming under the spotlight again in recent days.
McDowell spoke in a recent interview about his desire to be Ryder Cup captain.
However, in that same interview, McDowell was also quoted as suggesting he was trying to ‘eke out a living’ on the LIV Golf circuit, in response to those who criticised his move to LIV.
Naturally, social media picked up on those quotes and McDowell has been heavily criticised by fans.
Now, McDowell has taken to socials himself and issued some clarification on his comments.
Graeme McDowell responds after recent criticism
McDowell has every right to a response here and it seems that seeing the amount of critics coming for him has sparked a fuse inside him.
Taking to X to provide his own statement on the matter, McDowell has insisted his quotes have been taken out of context.
“Clickbait at its finest here. The article is about what it would mean to me to be the Ryder Cup captain in Ireland in 2027. Misquoted regards “ekeing out a living”. Supposed to read “ekeing out the last few years of my playing career”. I’ve been incredibly fortunate and if it was all done tomorrow all I would have is gratitude. That’s all,” McDowell wrote.
Clearly, McDowell has taken this to heart and his response here shows that.
Quite whether fans will see it that way, though, remains to be seen.
What Graeme McDowell said about being Ryder Cup captain
Just like many European golfers, Graeme McDowell would love the honour of leading Team Europe if Luke Donald steps away.
Indeed, that is what he was admitting in his interview with Bunkered, rather than suggesting he is simply trying to make ends meet on the LIV Tour.
“It’s on my mind, but being honest with you, I don’t know what to do about it,” McDowell admitted.
“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 say I’ll get what I deserve, which, you know, I’m not really sure I totally agree with that, right?
“People will say I don’t deserve it and I’m responsible for a lot of what’s happened. But I’m a very, very small cog in this big wheel.
“The divisiveness has come from the best players in the world. It hasn’t come from the 40-somethings like myself that are just trying to eke out a living and staying competitive on an opportunity that was presented to us, which would have been crazy to say 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 said maybe he doesn’t want to do it a third time. Justin Rose doesn’t want it because he wants to play. Rory [McIlroy] 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 together again.”
With Donald’s future still not decided and LIV Golf still having an impact on the decisions Team Europe make, it seems unlikely McDowell would get the nod anyway.
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