Rory McIlroy’s former Ryder Cup teammate offers unsurprising verdict: “I’m not having a moan”

In a recent interview with Bunkered ahead of LIV Golf’s event in the United Kingdom, Graeme McDowell, a former Ryder Cup teammate of Rory McIlroy, expressed his confidence in McIlroy’s ability to break his major championship drought in 2025. McDowell’s comments came in the wake of McIlroy’s disappointing 2024 season, where he ended his campaign with a missed cut at The Open held at Royal Troon.

 

McIlroy, a four-time major champion, had a challenging season by his high standards, with his performance at The Open falling short of expectations. As he reflects on his season and looks ahead to the future, McIlroy is undoubtedly focused on overcoming this major championship drought. His ultimate goal appears to be securing a victory at Augusta National, a place that would complete his career grand slam and cement his status among the greatest in golf history.

 

McDowell addressed McIlroy’s recent struggles, including his painful loss to Bryson DeChambeau at the U.S. Open held at Pinehurst. Despite these setbacks, McDowell remains firmly supportive of McIlroy. He praised McIlroy’s immense talent, noting, “He’s still one of the most talented players I’ve ever seen, to this day.” McDowell emphasized that McIlroy’s ability to perform at such a high level despite the challenges he faces on and off the course is nothing short of remarkable.

 

McDowell suggested that McIlroy’s involvement in various off-course activities, such as his contributions to the PGA Tour, might have added extra pressure during major tournaments. He speculated that this might have contributed to McIlroy’s difficulties in clinching another major title. However, McDowell is optimistic that with a more focused approach and less external noise, McIlroy will be able to overcome these hurdles.

 

Looking ahead, McDowell believes that McIlroy’s major drought will come to an end soon. He expressed hope that McIlroy will secure a victory at Augusta National, saying, “I fully believe that the drought will end pretty soon, and hopefully at Augusta. He deserves to win the career grand slam to put himself up there with the best-ever because I believe he is one of the best-ever.”

 

As for McDowell himself, his career has taken a different trajectory since joining LIV Golf in 2022. Having resigned from his PGA Tour and DP World Tour memberships, McDowell has seen a significant drop in the Official World Golf Ranking. Despite this, he remains determined to make a significant comeback. He is particularly focused on qualifying for next year’s Open Championship at Royal Portrush.

 

McDowell admitted to feeling disappointed while watching the Open Championship from home this year. However, he was quick to clarify that he was not complaining about his situation. “I understand why I’m not involved, and you could argue I’m not playing good enough to be involved anyway,” he said. Despite acknowledging the current state of his game, McDowell remains hopeful and is committed to making a push for next year’s Open.

 

He outlined his plans for the coming year, stating, “I still believe that with the right schedule, and the right attitude, and the right approach, I can get there. Portrush is massively on my radar and I will try and play any Asian Tour event or DP World Tour event that has spots for The Open and that I’m allowed to play in.” McDowell is prepared to balance his LIV Golf commitments with efforts to qualify for the Open, underscoring his dedication to the sport and his desire for one final noteworthy performance in his career.