Graeme McDowell competed in four Ryder Cups between 2008 and 2014 and was one of Europe’s best players.
McDowell scored nine points from 15 matches, with an impressive 60 percent win ratio, and helped Europe win the cup in 2010, 2012, and 2014.
He was then a vice-captain for Thomas Bjorn’s winning team in 2018 and Padraig Harrington’s unsuccessful side in 2021.
However, McDowell has not been part of the European Ryder Cup team since joining LIV Golf three years ago, including this time at Bethpage Black.
The Northern Irishman has opened up on whether he agrees with Luke Donald’s decision to exclude LIV golfers from his staff.
Graeme McDowell understands why Luke Donald didn’t make him a vice-captain
McDowell, Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson, and Lee Westwood would all be lined up as Ryder Cup captains or vice-captains if it were not for their allegiance to LIV Golf.
This may seem harsh, considering the time and effort they have put into the competition over the years, but McDowell does not feel aggrieved.
He understands that he does not have a close enough relationship with the majority of players after leaving the PGA and European Tours.
“I miss it. I miss being part of that ecosystem. I miss being part of the Ryder Cup culture,” McDowell explained to Smylie Kaufman.
“I get it, though. It wouldn’t make any sense to have a guy like me or [Ian] Poulter or [Lee] Westwood as a Ryder Cup vice captain because we really don’t spend enough time with these guys anymore.
“Being on the LIV tour, we don’t get a chance to go back and play the European Tour very often. And there’s a huge amount of trust and communication that you need with these players to be able to have them trust you, to have them know that you’ve got their back.
“As much as I would love to be there next week and be one of Luke’s vice captains, I also get it. I understand that there’s a lot more to it than just having a lot of experience and a lot of things to be able to tell the guys.
“They have to trust you, too. That means being there and playing and being in the European tour and being part of that group and obviously spending some time with these guys over the last couple of years.”
Graeme McDowell says Ryder Cup vice-captain experience was ‘surreal’
McDowell enjoyed vice-captaining the European Ryder Cup team on both occasions, but there is nothing like playing at the event.
He admitted that he and Matt Kuchar wished they were playing during the 2018 Ryder Cup, especially because Le Golf National suited their games.
“I was a vice-captain twice, when Thomas [Bjorn] was captain, and then I talked about Whistling Straits earlier when Padraig Harrington was the captain, and those were great experiences as well,” McDowell added.
“It’s a bit surreal standing to the side and watching. I remember Matt Kuchar and I were at Le Golf National at the French Ryder Cup, and if there’s a golf course… I’d won two French Opens on that golf course, and Kuchar had played well there, too.
“I remember Kuchar and me standing on the side of one of the tee boxes looking at each other going, ‘You and I could have had a pretty good tussle around here. This would be our type of golf course.'”
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