It will be a guaranteed six-years next April should Graeme McDowell capture this week’s Link Hong Kong and thus earn himself a first and long overdue appearance in any of the four majors.
Indeed, it was September, 2020 and when the delayed Covid-affected US Open was moved from it’s traditional June date to September 2020 when McDowell last contested a major championship.
His US Open victory 10-years earlier on that 2010 Father’s Day earned him a 10-year winner’s exemption while propelling him to World No. 13. Some six months later a third place finish in Abu Dhabi saw ‘G Mac’, as he has more affectionately come to be known, climb to a career high of No. 4 in the world.
Somewhat disappointingly but not that it really matters these days but G Mac arrived back to Hong Kong for this week’s Link Hong Kong Open currently ranked as the World No. 2,068th ranked golfer. The last time he was World No. 2,068 … well, he’s never been ranked that low with a rankings check revealing McDowell was then ranked No. 1,263 in teeing-up in his first officical world ranking event and that being the 2002 Great North Open.
A HONKERS @TheHKOpen WISH …
For @Graeme_McDowell @livgolf_league to earn a first major c’ship start in six years with a @TheHKOpen
Read: https://t.co/S48koQPzQS
✅ @TOURMISS pic.twitter.com/r4vuMNBZWa
— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) October 29, 2025
However, G Mac has the chance to correct that this week with both those who organise the Masters and the R & A who stage The Open, affording entry into the 2026 hosting of each event to this week’s winner (or highest non-exempt) player contesting this 64th hosting of the Hong Kong Open.
“I miss the majors, I miss the access to those and obviously it’s an amazing prize,” said McDowell speaking to LIV Golf
“I played the Masters in 2020 and also at Portrush was the last time being the 2019 Open, and at Portrush.
“Obviously, I love what I’m doing, I love the LIV Golf schedule, but I do miss the big tournaments.”
McDowell joins a host of ‘name’ LIV colleagues and none better than defending champion Patrick Reed along with fellow major winners in Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen along with Paul Casey, Thomas Pieters, Adrian Meronk, Richard Bland and also former champ in Kiwi Ben Campbell.
As well, there’s the cream of the Asian Tour and none better than Miguel Tabuen, and brilliant ‘home’ winner of last week’s International Series event in the Philippines.
“There have been some great champions at Fanling, and it is a golf course that I believe I can play well on, and have played well in the past there,” said McDowell.
“I love the city, I love the food and the experience of Hong Kong. I think the golf course is obviously such an old-school test, a classic Asian golf course.
“So clearly I’m heading into this week ready to go, and obviously I will be highly motivated.
“LIV Golf has gone there the last couple of years and then back in the European Tour days, I would always come to the Hong Kong Open.
“I feel like I must have played maybe a dozen tournaments at Fanling over the years.”
In fact, the answer to that question is 7.
Of course, much also has changed in McDowell’s golfing life since he made his Hong Kong Open debut the second week of November 2008 posting four rounds in the 60s to share sixth place.
He returned a year later to share 18th and in November 2010 again returned to finish in a tie fifth.
After a five-year absence G Mac enteted the 2015 event to share 24th place and there was the emergence of LIV Golf
Indeed, and since moving to LIV Golf, McDowell has not contested a full DP World Tour event since a share of 50th in the 2022 BMW PGA Championship at DP World Tour HQ at Wentworth.
Fortunately for Hong Kong Open fans McDowell’s LIV attachment saw him tee-up in the 2023 Hong Kong Open sharing 12th place behind Kiwi Ben Smith who denied Aussie Cam Smith by a shot.
McDowell returned to the region in March last year but missed the cut in the International Series Macua while he was back to Macau also in March this year to share 40th place.
He’s contested 13 events this 2025 season, each one a LIV Golf tournament and with a best finish of second in May’s LIV Golf Virginia.
TEE OFF …..
McDowell will tee-off at 11.1o am (local time) in the first group of the afternoon group from the 10th tee and in the company of fellow LIV stars Richard Bland and Peter Uihlein.
