Doubts surrounding Graeme McDowell’s LIV Golf future are over.
The Telegraph reported McDowell will sign for Brooks Koepka’s Smash GC after becoming a free agent in 2023.
The former US Open champion finished 42nd in the season-long standings which meant he was no longer under contract.
Smash GC posted a team announcement to X on Tuesday, unveiling the McDowell acquisition.
Smash GC had been represented by Koepka, Jason Kokrak and Matthew Wolff. His brother Chase was also in the four-man team but was relegated at the end of the season.
McDowell’s former team, Cleeks GC, is now represented by just Martin Kaymer and Richard Bland following Bernd Wiesberger’s return to the DP World Tour.
LIV teams aren’t obligated to resign players who finished between 25th and 44th in the standings and who are also out of contract.
McDowell’s LIV contract lasted two seasons. The Telegraph say that Cleeks GC captain Kaymer, and McDowell’s former Ryder Cup teammate, wants to look elsewhere for new teammates.
Graeme McDowell: LIV Golf the last resort, or were there other options?
The Northern Irishman’s future in professional golf was unclear following the conclusion of LIV Golf’s second season.
One option could’ve been the Asian Tour where many LIV players have plied their trade throughout 2023, including McDowell.
The 44-year-old could’ve followed Wiesberger back to the DP World Tour, but his situation was a little trickier than the Austrian.
The Telegraph reported that LIV paid $1.5 million in fines to allow Wiesberger to re-apply for his membership, but also that McDowell didn’t have the same privileges in his own LIV contract.
He would’ve been required to pay for his own outstanding sanctions. McDowell is 22nd on the all-time DP World Tour money list and has won 11 times on the circuit.
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