Graeme McDowell leaves LIV Golf after four seasons and passes on LIV 2.0

Graeme McDowell is out at LIV Golf. The 47-year-old from Northern Ireland posted a statement on X on Monday, October 26, saying he has "decided not to pursue LIV 2.0," the league's planned 2027 relaunch. BBC Sport, Sky Sports and Deadspin all reported the post.

McDowell wrote that he is grateful for the opportunity he has had over the last four years and thanked everyone who was part of it. He said he is looking forward to the next chapter of his career, but he did not say what that chapter is.

His LIV run

McDowell joined LIV when it launched in 2022 and played for several teams, most recently OKGC this season, according to Deadspin. BBC Sport says his best LIV finish was a tie for second in Virginia in June 2025. Before that he won 11 times on the DP World Tour and four times on the PGA Tour, including the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, and he played on four Ryder Cup teams.

Where he can go

That is the open question. Earlier this year McDowell told BBC Sport he had held "really positive" talks about returning to the DP World Tour and said his LIV-related fines were paid off at the end of 2023. Since then, the tour has said it will not grant 2027 membership to players who intend to play LIV 2.0. McDowell's exit takes him out of that group, but no tour has announced a deal with him. Sky Sports notes his last DP World Tour start outside the majors came at the 2022 BMW PGA Championship.

The LIV exits keep coming

He joins a long list. Jon Rahm, Louis Oosthuizen, Ian Poulter, Branden Grace, Tyrrell Hatton and Tom McKibbin have all said they are done with LIV, and Deadspin adds Sergio Garcia, David Puig, Abraham Ancer, Charles Howell III, Adrian Meronk and Thomas Pieters to the list.

LIV is in Chapter 11 and is counting on up to $300 million in financing from BC Partners Credit. BC Partners' player-commitment date was Sunday, October 25, and about 15 players had tentatively signed on by then.

What to watch

Watch for McDowell's 2027 schedule, starting with whether the DP World Tour takes him back before its November 16 sign-up date. On the LIV side, the next bankruptcy court hearing is set for November 5.