McDowell becomes latest major champion to exit LIV

Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell becomes the latest major champion to exit LIV Golf. Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell has become the latest major champion to confirm his departure from LIV Golf. The 2010 US Open winner, McDowell, 47, announced on Monday he has "decided not to pursue" LIV 2.0, the new version of the breakaway tour which is due to start in 2027. Major winners Jon Rahm and Louis Oosthuizen have also confirmed their departures, while McDowell's fellow countryman Tom McKibbin said he was exiting LIV to return to the DP World Tour last week. England's Tyrrell Hatton and Ian Poulter have also left the competition. Saudi's Public Investment Fund withdrew its backing from LIV in April – having pumped in more than $5bn (£3.8bn) – leading to the league filing for bankruptcy protection in the United States last month.

It has secured a possible $300m (£224m) in financing from BC Partners Credit to try to move forward with 'LIV 2.0', but only a handful of players have so far committed. Former world number four McDowell joined LIV when it launched as a lucrative Saudi Arabia-backed project in 2022. The 11-time DP World Tour winner's best finish on LIV was a tie for second in Virginia in June 2025. "I've decided not to pursue LIV 2.0," said four-time Ryder Cup player