It began with a query about newspaper headlines in Belfast Telegraph slamming his backing of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Collection as pure sportswashing.
hen there have been even emotional revelations about dying threats.
Who’d have thought Tiger Woods opening with a 77 within the unimaginable charitable occasion that’s the JP McManus Professional-Am might be totally overshadowed by the bitter civil battle between LIV Golf and the sport’s main excursions.
Graeme McDowell opened with a one-under 71 to path chief Xander Schauffele by seven pictures at Adare Manor however the golf is just a minor concern on the 2027 Ryder Cup venue as he laid his soul naked, admitting he generally finds it laborious to look within the mirror now that his legacy is, at the very least briefly, “tainted”.
Whereas he pointed the finger on the DP World Tour’s hypocrisy in taking the Saudi hundreds of thousands in 2020 and 2021 and distanced himself from the 16 LIV Golf rebels taking authorized motion towards the DP World Tour, saying he would solely come again if he was welcomed with open arms, he appeared on the verge of tears at instances.
He addressed the lack of the aggressive “spark” that made him a world-beater and likewise his anger on the DP World Tour’s Man Kinnings for allegedly leaking his doubts about signing as much as LIV Golf when having a non-public dialogue on reneging on a deal to host final week’s Horizon Irish Open resulting from a conflict with the second LIV occasion in Portland.
Having didn’t qualify for the US Open, he’s resigned to lacking The Open subsequent week too, insisting he received’t tee it up even when an injunction by the 16 rebels difficult a ban on their taking part in this week’s Scottish Open in some way prospers.
“I solely wish to be there if The Scottish Open would really like me to be there,” he stated. He was greatly surprised by the vitriolic response to his choice to defend Saudi Arabia’s makes an attempt at normalising their regime by way of sport however doubled down on his views expressed earlier than the primary LIV occasion final month.
“The toughest factor for me the final three or 4 weeks is the damaging fallout and being linked to feedback, the place all you’re attempting to do is say the precise issues and do the precise factor for a golf organisation which are giving us an exceptional alternative,” McDowell stated.
“All of the tenuous hyperlinks to the issues that these guys have allegedly performed after we know that the hyperlinks are, like I say, tenuous at finest. It doesn’t imply everyone seems to be Saudi Arabia is a foul particular person.” Calling out double-standards, he added: “Joe Biden, he’s going to leap on a airplane and sit down with MBS (Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia) in two weeks’ time as a result of he wants his oil. However golfers, we’re the worst individuals on this planet.”
For now, he’s resigned to a life in {golfing} exile – “I’ve made my peace with it” – and admits he understands why he wouldn’t be allowed again as a LIV participant.
“For certain,” he stated. “That’s the entire have-your-cake-and-eat-it scenario. If I’m by no means allowed to play one other golf event on The European Tour, will I be stunned? No. I can be dissatisfied however I received’t be stunned. It’s tough as a result of that is such a aggressive risk to the largest excursions on this planet, the PGA Tour and the European Tour.
“They clearly don’t consider of their product properly sufficient to have the ability to give the gamers the selection as a result of they really feel like in the event that they do give the gamers the selection they’re going to lose 48 of the perfect gamers on this planet immediately.”
As for his legacy, he admits it’s been broken however he hopes not irrevocably, insisting he’s not sorry he took the cash.
“Within the quick time period it’s tainted as a result of the narrative is so damaging. Finally that narrative must change. What number of high gamers are going to need to play on this factor and create a product to the place you guys will begin speaking about golf?”
As for being known as out by DP World Tour CEO Keith Pelley, with out being named, for reneging on his written promise to play the Horizon Irish Open, he accused Pelley’s deputy Kinnings of leaking their non-public dialog on the matter to the media, one thing the DP World Tour vehemently denies.
“I attempted to be honest and I attempted to be open with them and put all my playing cards on the desk. In fact I used to be very dissatisfied that the second occasion fell towards the Irish Open. I might have cherished to have been there final week. The one factor I can say is I’ve to be all-in. I’m 43 and 380th on this planet. My worth to those guys is just a lot. I’ve to attempt to commit the perfect I can to the LIV Tour, and that meant not clearly with the ability to play final week.”
He added: “Pay attention, I’d like to be again on the Irish Open subsequent yr and like I say I can solely apologise to the Irish golf followers that I wasn’t there final week. And like I say, sadly I had fairly good causes for it regards what I’ve to decide to with the LIV Tour. I’ve to be all-in with these occasions. I can’t simply dip my toe in.”
Requested if he’d ‘bought his soul to the satan’, he stated: “I’ve performed golf all around the world for, you already know, nations that for those who dug deep sufficient, you may assume, what am I doing taking part in golf right here,” he stated. As for his causes for taking the cash, he admitted that struggling to compete and battling accidents he “misplaced my spark slightly bit.”
He doesn’t know the place it can all finish by as he appeared round on the world’s high gamers and a subject of amateurs that included PGA Tour boss Jay Monahan and his European counterpart Pelley, who puzzled if JP McManus is perhaps the one man able to reaching a compromise.
“Possibly JP will sit all of them down tonight and kind them out,” he stated. “Pay attention, there won’t be an occasion on this planet once more for the following 4 or 5 years that appears like this. So God bless him.”
The complete transcript of Graeme McDowell’s interview
Q. I used to be simply pondering, I see entrance pages headlines within the Belfast Telegraph saying “I’m proud to assist the Saudis”, how does that have an effect on you and particularly your loved ones residing there?
GRAEME McDOWELL: I do not learn The Belfast Telegraph — do not even f***ing inform me what was on the entrance — is that an actual paper?
Q. Kenny (his father) and the entire household. All of the headlines.
GRAEME McDOWELL: What paper was that? Was that an actual one? Nobody reads it anyway, it is okay.
Pay attention, f**ok, like some man from Amnesty Worldwide, despatched me the quotes, requested me to reply. How am I supposed to answer Amnesty Worldwide? That is known as preventing a dropping battle. In fact I am not going to reply. It is ridiculous. It is simply golf. I am not attempting to resolve the world’s points. So yeah, not actual proud of the Belfast Telegraph. For my household to learn that s***. It is unfair. It is unfair.
Q. Can I simply ask you concerning the scenario with Scottish Open and that form of factor and simply the golf politics in the intervening time?
GRAEME McDOWELL: For certain, I am very dissatisfied to not be taking part in Scotland this week. It was clearly my solely approach into The Open. As a previous champion in The Scottish Open, I might like to be there.
However I imply, it is anticipated, you already know, with the present setting now we have occurring proper now and till we get this all straightened out, I sort of did not count on to be taking part in it. I do know a couple of of the blokes are attempting to battle it from a authorized standpoint to be there. I do not wish to be there beneath some form of authorized injunction premise. I solely wish to be there if The Scottish Open would really like me to be there. In any other case I am blissful to take a seat it out. I am not blissful to take a seat it out however I’ll respect their needs.
I hope sooner or later, I believe all of us really feel strongly about The European Tour. We really feel proud about what now we have created and sooner or later we might love a possibility to maybe play some European Tour occasions but when that is not doable so be it. I believe we weighed these penalties up after we made this choice. You realize, when the truth begins hitting residence, it’s disappointing however like I say, anticipated.
Q. Do you are feeling this can be a one-off as a result of it’s distinctive and it’s co-sanctioned with the PGA TOUR, or do you worry it is the way in which The European Tour will go along with different occasions?
GRAEME McDOWELL: It’s extremely laborious to know. Clearly The European Tour should not rolling out their sanctions the way in which the PGA TOUR have rolled them out and being very clear that we’re simply not welcome to play. The European Tour have taken it step-by-step and know, dissatisfied clearly to not get the choice to play The Scottish Open.
What is going to occur sooner or later, you already know, I am a few of the stuff form of September onwards, seeing some alternatives to play Wentworth and Dunhill Hyperlinks, issues like that. However we’ll see. It is simply step-by-step proper now, and like I say, it is unlucky however like I say the results have been weighed up by all gamers. We knew what the potential expectations have been and like I say, it is slightly disappointing however it’s what it’s, we’ll cope with it.
Q. How tough was it to make that call, realizing that these penalties, that are coming to fruition, have been on the horizon?
GRAEME McDOWELL: Yeah, it was very tough. You realize, there have been a whole lot of execs and there have been a whole lot of cons. You needed to make your peace with the damaging facet of issues. The toughest factor for me the final three or 4 weeks is what Brian is mentioning, the damaging fallout and being linked to feedback, the place all you are attempting to do is say the precise issues and do the precise factor for a golf organisation which are giving us an exceptional alternative. All of the tenuous hyperlinks to the issues that these guys have allegedly performed after we know that the hyperlinks are, like I say, tenuous at finest. It does not imply everyone seems to be Saudi Arabia is a foul particular person, you already know what I am saying.
These guys are operating a really, very profitable golf product which is being phenomenally properly staged, taking nice care of the gamers and the gamers are loving it and so many good issues are occurring. However the negativity does not make you pleased with your self every single day. You get up. Hopefully the narrative will change to golf quickly and we will get on with it.
Q. I believe the difficulty might be as a result of it is a regime and also you guys are there being paid by that regime, and are saying issues which are good about that regime and so there for it sort of places you within the firing line?
GRAEME McDOWELL: I am unsure guys are essentially saying good issues concerning the regime. I believe we’re focussing on the nice issues that the golf is doing. You realize, I am not ready to touch upon the regime. I do not know sufficient about it.
Like I say, we are attempting to signify the golf tour in a very good gentle as a result of we’re simply attempting to be skilled golfers. We are attempting to compete and we are attempting to proceed to do the precise issues from a golf standpoint. Not claiming to do something greater than that, and it has been very laborious.
It has been very tough, like I say, London, particularly, to see my title linked to the kind of issues that folks have stated. It is hurtful. I get it. It is individuals’s opinions. It isn’t like I did not count on it, you already know. However I believe I am a fairly sensible one that tries to say sensible issues and the precise issues, however there’s an inevitability to all this the place you find yourself in a gap as a result of there isn’t any proper reply. There isn’t a proper reply to a whole lot of the questions you are being requested.
Q. How tough is the following fortnight more likely to be for you, realizing what {the golfing} world goes to be doing and you are not part of it?
GRAEME McDOWELL: It is at all times tough to take a seat residence and watch main championships. It’s what it’s. In fact I wish to be competing at a excessive degree. LIV Golf provides me the chance every week to tee it up towards these guys. However proper now I haven’t got sufficient World Rating factors and that stops me from having access to the largest occasions on this planet. I attempted to qualify for the U.S. Open and I missed by one. I needed to sit residence and watch that one. The Scottish Open was my approach into The Open and that is now been taken away from me.
Like I say, these are penalties that I knew have been on the horizon, and I’ve made my peace with it. I am simply going to proceed to attempt to be the perfect participant I might be, taking part in on the tour that I’ve dedicated to and I am hoping the alternatives will current themselves as we transfer ahead.
Q. A few of your fellow gamers right here on The European Tour this week say they perceive precisely the rationale why you are going. On the similar time, say, you should not be allowed again into The European Tour. Are you able to perceive the place they’re coming from?
GRAEME McDOWELL: For certain. Completely. That is the entire have-your-cake-and-eat-it scenario. If I am by no means allowed to play one other golf event on The European Tour, will I be stunned? No. I can be dissatisfied however I will not be stunned. It’s tough as a result of that is such a aggressive risk to the largest excursions on this planet, the PGA TOUR and the European Tour.
It is a aggressive risk. They clearly do not consider of their product properly sufficient to have the ability to give the gamers the selection as a result of they really feel like in the event that they do give the gamers the selection they’re going to lose 48 of the perfect gamers on this planet straightaway.
It says lots about how financially profitable that is, and there is clearly a whole lot of good issues concerning the alternative in 14 occasions and the group ingredient, the entire issues which are totally different from the 72-hole slog that we play week-in, week-out. It a implausible slog, although. The PGA TOUR is the perfect tour on this planet.
All of us wish to co-exist however we all know that on the minute there isn’t any approach that may probably occur. You’re taking the highest 48 gamers on this planet away for 14 weeks a yr, it is fairly robust for the PGA TOUR and The European Tour to have the ability to suck that up and be capable to have their product function on the similar degree.
Q. How does it resolve then?
GRAEME McDOWELL: I do not know. I do not know the way it’s resolved, I actually do not and it might not be in my {golfing} lifetime that it’s resolved.
Selfishly, I am 43 years outdated subsequent month, and I am dissatisfied that like I simply stated a second in the past that I haven’t got the power to play the majors and to play the opposite massive occasions on this planet. However my schedule’s going to be simply superb. I am blissful sufficient with what I’ve acquired to sit up for for the following 18 months from a {golfing} standpoint. It is financially an ideal alternative for me and my household.
I hate sort of the place it places me from a headline standpoint and sort of what it makes — what it makes all of it seem like, however you already know, inside the circle of LIV, I believe the gamers, there’s an ideal camaraderie, gamers proceed to get higher and higher from the standpoint of the sphere to the purpose the place you already know, it will not be ignored without end by the World Rating federations and by the most important championships.
I am hoping there’s going to be a approach again in as a result of I really feel like I am nonetheless adequate to compete at a excessive degree any week I play. It isn’t like I am saying, I am hanging up my golf equipment, I’m completed, I’m off to LIV, all the perfect. It isn’t about that.
It is about sort of sick of ending one hundred and fiftieth within the FedEx and banging my head towards the wall on the PGA TOUR. It is laborious. It is laborious each week. You realize, I paid my dues. I’ve performed the precise issues for 20 years of my life, and now I wish to go and make some cash in a implausible alternative.
Q. We have simply come from Mount Juliet, Keith Pelley put out a press release final week.
GRAEME McDOWELL: Did he?
Q. He did not title you.
GRAEME McDOWELL: He principally named me, yeah.
Q. How do you are feeling about that?
GRAEME McDOWELL: I felt damage by it, clearly, however I understood it as properly and I had already had the dialog with The European Tour about that scenario.
So the scenario was for me to play the Saudi Worldwide earlier this yr, which was a European Tour, which I received in 2020 and due to this fact then had a three-year deal to return and play in that event. I then needed to beg them to let me go play in that event, and to do they made me commit the Irish Open. Whoa, decide to the Irish Open? God, that is a tremendous idea; I’ve performed for the final 20 years. However then clearly issues modified and the LIV schedule began to come back out, and clearly the second occasion is towards the Irish Open.
So I known as them and I stated, hey, guys, I will have an issue right here as a result of I both need to be all-in and play all LIV occasions. I can not dip my toe in; I haven’t got that means. Subsequently, the Irish Open goes to be a difficulty for me, and I might like the power to have the ability to make that as much as you in a roundabout way, form or type as a result of I won’t be capable to do that.
In order that was the dialog that we had. That dialog subsequently acquired leaked to the press like three hours later throwing me beneath the bus saying I used to be having doubts about going to LIV. So my confidential telephone name with The European Tour was then leaked to the press.
Q. Was that may Keith direct?
GRAEME McDOWELL: That was with Man Kinnings. That was with Man Kinnings. And like I stated, I acknowledged the truth that I had stated I used to be going to play the Irish Open, however then I had a scheduling battle and I stated, I can not honour it however I wish to do one thing in alternative.
My argument was additionally, are we even going to have a relationship the second that I tee it up in London within the first LIV occasion, what does that do to our relationship? You need me to play the Irish Open? So are we going to have a very good relationship or are we going to have a foul relationship? As a result of I am not going to vow to you that I will do issues if we aren’t going to have a relationship, anyway. What is the level?
That is sort of how the dialog went. I attempted to be honest and I attempted to be open with them and put all my playing cards on the desk. You realize, in fact I used to be very dissatisfied that the second occasion fell towards the Irish Open. I might have cherished to have been there final week.
The one factor I can say is I’ve to be all-in. I am 43 and 380th on this planet. My worth to those guys is just a lot. I’ve to attempt to commit the perfect I can to the LIV Tour, and that meant not clearly with the ability to play final week.
Q. Will we see you within the Irish Open sooner or later?
GRAEME McDOWELL: Completely, I had a dialog with the blokes, they’re attempting to create a schedule that co-exists with the PGA TOUR. Sadly The European Tour schedule is a secondary sort of thought for them. I imply, you already know, I’ve informed them I might not prefer to be conflicted with the Irish Open subsequent yr, to have the chance, if in some nice world that I am truly capable of compete within the Irish Open.
Q. You’ll have hosted as properly.
GRAEME McDOWELL: Completely, yeah. Pay attention —
Q. You’ve got been supporting the Irish Open for 20 years.
GRAEME McDOWELL: For certain. For certain. However I wasn’t included this yr once they introduced Horizon. I discovered on-line. I imply, I wasn’t included in that complete dialog which was disappointing on the time, however you already know, no matter. Horizon, implausible sponsor, actually blissful to see it.
Pay attention, I might like to be again on the Irish Open subsequent yr and like I say I can solely apologise to the Irish golf followers that I wasn’t there final week. And like I say, sadly I had fairly good causes for it regards what I’ve to decide to with the LIV Tour. I’ve to be all-in with these occasions. I can not simply dip my toe in. I haven’t got that means. I haven’t got a adequate World Rating to have the ability to dip my toe in.
Q. I perceive the scenario that you simply’re in and I am certain if LIV got here to me and stated, would you like a job for X amount of cash, my spouse would say, how shortly would you like me to pack your luggage and shall I ring a taxi. Is there a sense, have you ever bought your soul to the satan?
GRAEME McDOWELL: In fact persons are going to have that opinion.
Q. Do you are feeling slightly little bit of guilt inside that, look, I actually could not flip it down?
GRAEME McDOWELL: I’ve performed golf all around the world for, you already know, nations that for those who dug deep sufficient, you may assume, what am I doing taking part in golf right here. You possibly can have that dialog so some ways and so many instances during the last 20 years.
Q. The ethical factor. Low-hanging fruit.
GRAEME McDOWELL: We’ve been all around the Center East and throughout Asia. This has simply been blown utterly out of all proportion.
Q. And you’re on the firing line for some cause.
GRAEME McDOWELL: I used to be on the firing line in London as a result of for some cause, I used to be silly sufficient to speak about it.
Q. Is that this a part of your contract that it’s important to speak extra?
GRAEME McDOWELL: Pay attention in hindsight I want I had stated nothing. I want I had went with the Brooks Koepka, Pat Perez fashion press convention final week. Genuinely, I want would have simply stated nothing as a result of you already know …
Q. Are you sorry you have joined?
GRAEME McDOWELL: No.
Q. Your legacy, main winner, it is prefer it’s completed.
GRAEME McDOWELL: You are saying my legacy is completed?
Q. Has it tainted it?
GRAEME McDOWELL: Within the quick time period it is tainted as a result of the narrative is so damaging. Finally that narrative must change. What number of high gamers are going to need to play on this factor and create a product to the place you guys will begin speaking about golf?
I get it. The quantity of shit that is been written about me the final six weeks, it is one thing I’ve by no means needed to cope with in my {golfing} profession earlier than.
Q. It is the worth. You used the phrase “damage.”
GRAEME McDOWELL: In fact it hurts my emotions. Like I stated, I want I had stored my mouth shut in London. However I am simply up there attempting to do my job for an organisation, the LIV Golf organisation, which are attempting to promote a narrative. They’re attempting to vary the narrative to what it’s to the narrative that we wish to take which is that is about golf and it is a few new — only a new product for the followers.
However I imply, we’re so targeted on, you already know, the negativity surrounding the Saudi Arabian regime.
Q. Harrington does not see it that approach. He thinks there’s room for everyone. He says they’re my associates and there is room for everyone.
GRAEME McDOWELL: In fact, there’s room within the recreation for this product. There’s completely room within the recreation for this product.
Q. Very rational.
GRAEME McDOWELL: Completely. Pay attention, at this level in my profession, it is unattainable to stroll away from the enterprise alternative that’s LIV. As soon as we get previous all of the bullshit, there may be room within the sport for this product.
Q. Get the World Rating factors.
GRAEME McDOWELL: Get the World Rating factors sorted out and the gamers proceed to come back. Pay attention, it does not make me pleased with myself every single day.
Q. Adare Manor, you have been talked about probably as Ryder Cup Captain a pair years in the past. Is that one thing that also burns inside you which may come to cross or do you are feeling that the route you have gone down could have probably broken that?
GRAEME McDOWELL: In fact, strolling round this morning, I am wanting round pondering that is going to be probably the greatest Ryder Cup venues of all time. Pay attention, if I had a possibility to captain a European Workforce right here, I would grasp my hat up after I’m performed. That is perhaps just about it, like what else do I wish to do on this sport.
Q. If it is going to be divisive amongst The European Tour fraternity, would you wish to be concerned or would you favor to not?
GRAEME McDOWELL: Pay attention, I solely wish to come again to play on The European Tour and to be a part of the organisation if I’m wished again. I do not wish to battle my approach in a courtroom again. I do not wish to undergo all that stuff. I am not concerned about that.
I am solely if assume wish to co-exist with LIV and they’re blissful to have the blokes come again and help and be a part of what it’s they constructed. As a result of once you have a look at the blokes which are taking part in LIV from Sergio Garcia to Lee Westwood to Ian Poulter to myself to Paul Casey, they’ve created the fashionable day European Tour the previous ten years and are the perfect gamers in Europe. Nonetheless, there’s a whole lot of their coronary heart and loyalty and soul right here on The European Tour.
I believe they really feel there’s much less loyalty to the PGA TOUR as a result of that was only a car for them which on the time was financially extra profitable, and that was the rationale why all of them went to the States and the rationale why I went to the States is as a result of it was a greater enterprise alternative than The European Tour.
Now there’s one other enterprise alternative that is higher than different issues. So we lose the PGA TOUR and we’re a bit like, that is disappointing, however there’s one thing — there’s a lot extra love and soul concerned within the European Tour. That is the place all of us grew up and we really feel extra possession than we do on the PGA TOUR as a result of, you already know, PGA TOUR is a implausible car however I do not assume we have been ever embraced the identical approach they embraced the younger American gamers. The European Tour boys have been at all times the outsiders. Pay attention, a whole lot of us made an ideal residing over there and it was implausible.
Q. However once you’re at a standstill over there, you get to that age, 20 years in the past, you’d have been completed just about by now competitively and the place you’re in your rating, the variety of programs you may compete on. You will have this chance, it is like manna from heaven.
GRAEME McDOWELL: Type of misplaced my spark slightly bit. Felt like I used to be going by way of the motions on the PGA TOUR slightly bit. Nonetheless love the sport however you already know, forearms and simply getting damage, and like positively wasn’t a whole lot of spark there.
Clearly there is a sure vitality degree that comes with a brand new alternative, teeing it up and no lower each week. You realize, I do really feel brisker and I really feel extra energised by the chance that is in entrance of me as a result of it’s totally different and there may be some assure there and there may be large upside.
Like I say, as soon as we will get by way of all of the stuff and begin focussing on the sport a bit — it is going to be awhile. It isn’t going to take months. It might take a yr. It might take two years, who is aware of.
Q. Ought to these gamers win their case and The European Tour carry the ban, would you go to Scotland?
GRAEME McDOWELL: No.
Q. You would not go? Even when all of the bans are listed?
GRAEME McDOWELL: Until The European Tour put out a press release and say all is forgiven, we love you guys, come on again. I do not wish to go to Scotland as a result of some arbitrary sports activities council panel decides that is the right factor. That is not the way in which I wish to go to the Scottish Open. Like I say, until some sort of miracle occurs, I am going again to Florida on Wednesday.
Q. What is the dream situation, for those who might have a look at the silver lining to any cloud, what do you see as the longer term being for you and the entire enterprise? What is the finish recreation?
GRAEME McDOWELL: For me?
Q. What would you like to see occur?
GRAEME McDOWELL: I might like to say all of the excursions on this planet co-exist collectively and simply saying, you already know okay there’s LIV, there’s 14 occasions, go play. Come again, if you wish to be a PGA TOUR member, you have to play 15 and that is what you have acquired to take action now you want 29 occasions together with the majors, so if that is your schedule and also you wish to be a PGA TOUR member, nice, all the perfect; and no matter The European Tour need.
You realize, to me, play 15 on the LIV Tour and plus the stay schedule, if guys wish to try this, give them the chance. It is a reasonably large ask from a scheduling standpoint. However like I say, that is the coexisting argument. You play 14 over there, you may’t play 15 over there — as a result of Brooks Koepka did not wish to play 29 occasions a yr, he has already stated that, proper.
Q. You realize Jimmy Dunne (who misplaced workers within the Twin Towers and put their households by way of faculty and gave them jobs. He’s requested gamers to cease saying it’s for his or her households or to develop the sport and requested them to simply rise up and say it’s for the cash).
GRAEME McDOWELL: I do not learn stuff anymore.
Q. The 42 those that have been buried and the 42 households he put by way of faculty, saying, look, guys, simply say it as it’s.
GRAEME McDOWELL: For those who look into the 9/11 stuff, it is tenuous about finest who these guys have been. Like I hear you, one among my excellent associates misplaced his son. I known as him two days after the stuff got here out, as a result of I wanted to listen to it from him, as a result of if he hated my guts, I wanted to listen to it from him. He will get it. He is a golf man. He is a enterprise man. He is like, my boy was killed by the Arabs. Not each particular person in Saudi Arabia is a foul particular person.
If he had been killed by an Irish man, does that imply each particular person in Eire is a foul particular person. It is like, it is so tenuous that it is so, like — hear, I might stand right here and defend it. However I felt like, yeah, there isn’t any level. One of the horrendous issues in our lifetime.
In fact there’s some tenuous hyperlinks to Saudi Arabia however you do not see the largest corporations on this planet not doing enterprise on the market and the largest American corporations not doing enterprise on the market.
Q. In response to the New York Instances, the hyperlinks which were made between the Saudis and 9/11 seem to have been shut down by the US authorities.
GRAEME McDOWELL: Joe Biden, he’ll bounce on a airplane and sit down with MBS (Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia) in two weeks’ time as a result of he wants his oil. However golfers, we are the worst individuals on this planet. How are we the worst individuals on this planet?
Q. What if somebody acquired you all collectively, PGA TOUR and European Tour, a Henry Kissinger sort determine, sit down in a room and say, lads, how can we compromise that protects the sanctity of the 4 majors, provides you your tour, and there’s the PGA TOUR, European Tour and you’ve got your bit there? Is that what it is going to take?
GRAEME McDOWELL: I do not know. I do not know, mate.
Q. There have to be some type of compromise?
GRAEME McDOWELL: I don’t know. Possibly JP will sit all of them down tonight and kind them out. JP is the one man – hear, there won’t be an occasion on this planet once more for the following 4 or 5 years that appears like this. So God bless him.
