McDowell Admits Money Drove LIV Golf Move

Graeme McDowell, the 2010 U.S. Open champion from Northern Ireland, acknowledged that financial incentives primarily drove his decision to join LIV Golf in 2022, expressing regret over early statements framing the move as an effort to grow the sport. The 46-year-old spoke ahead of this week's LIV Golf event at Trump National D.C. in Virginia, as the Saudi Public Investment Fund announced it will cease funding the league after the 2026 season.

McDowell, who was 42 when he signed with LIV, described being on the verge of leaving professional golf. "I was ready to jump ship and go get a real job," he told Sports Illustrated. "And then these guys came along and said, 'Hey, we're going to do this tour. Do you want to come play?' I love playing. I love competing." He has earned more than $16 million in prize money on LIV since joining, compared to just over $19 million across two decades on the PGA Tour.

The golfer wished he had been more candid from the start. "I regret a few things I said in the beginning, stuff like growing the game," McDowell said. "I should have just said it for what it was: this is good for my bank account, and I'm getting a runway to play the game of golf for...