Graeme McDowell’s 11th European Tour victory © Eurooean Tour
The Northern Ireland member of the PGA Tour is one of the 8 players who have applied to compete in Saudi International next February. An event financed by the new investment platform of which Greg Norman has taken the controls and now on the calendar of the Asian Tour
Based in the United States for many years, Graeme McDowell is nonetheless a globetrotter of the golf world.
If he has never hesitated to cross the Atlantic to line up at the start of international events, whether they are the European Tour tournaments in the Middle East or on the old continent, it is to another much more difficult question for the 42-year-old to answer today.
“We have raised this subject several times over the past two years to gauge what it might mean. Is it constructive or destructive if 5 or 10 of the best in the world leave the PGA Tour? Obviously, we know this is a major problem ” said the winner of the US Open 2010.
“I have no contract with the new circuit and I am very happy with my place on the PGA Tour now.”
“For the moment it is very complicated to measure the consequences. It’s so difficult to comment. Is it good or bad for golf? ”
“The competition (implies competition) is generally good for everyone. I think the PGA Tour product has never been as strong as it is now and it continues to get stronger. ”
The Northern Irishman recently requested an exit voucher to travel to Saudi Arabia in early February and compete in the Saudi International, a tournament he won in 2020. On the calendar for the only Asian Tour, McDowell’s motivation doesn’t is therefore only financial since sporting a good result in this competition is not of interest.
McDowell is obviously aware of the latent conflict between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Arabian-backed golf league project and therefore does not want to blame himself.
“I asked the PGA Tour for an exit clearance to start this tournament because I have played in the Middle East for a large part of my career.McDowell justified himself after the first round of the Bermuda Championship.
“The PGA Tour has asked us to do this even nothing says if we are going to be able to play this tournament.”
