Report: Brooks Koepka bails out Ryder Cup star with LIV Golf lifeline

Graeme McDowell will be joining Brooks Koepka's LIV Golf team for the third campaign, according to a report. 

English tour pro Richard Bland confirmed the 2010 U.S. Open winner would be leaving the Cleeks GC outfit in a recent interview. 

The Englishman would not say which side the Irishman would be joining but Telegraph Sport claim McDowell will be joining Koepka's Smash side. 

McDowell resigned his PGA Tour membership before the inaugural LIV Golf event last June to avoid legal woes and financial penalties. 

After the DP World Tour won their arbitration case against LIV golfers, a number of players resigned their memberships from the European tour. 

At the time, other European golf icons such as Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter brought to an end glittering careers with their home tour. 

The aforementioned duo were handed three-year contracts with the breakaway tour when they signed on the dotted line 18 months ago. 

But McDowell only penned a two-year deal and joined the Cleeks side, captained by 2012 European Ryder Cup hero Martin Kaymer. 

McDowell endured a tough time on the course during LIV's first two seasons. He finished 39th on the money list in the rival league's 'beta-test' year which featured only seven events. 

In 2023 he finished 42nd on the money list. The Cleeks were also poor, placing 10th out of 12 teams. 

It means there are now two open spots on the Cleeks as Austrian Bernd Wiesberger has opted to continue his career on the DP World Tour. 

LIV are said to have paid a whopping $1.5m penalty for Wiesberger to make his return to Europe. 

McDowell's contract, Telegraph Sport allege, didn't stipulate the rival league would pay his fines imposed by the PGA or DP World Tour. 

It is understood he is still a member of the DP World Tour but owes $1.5m in fines. 

To all intents and purposes, McDowell was facing the prospect playing on the Asian Tour in a bid to return to LIV had a team not taken a chance. 

Koepka's Smash side did comprise of Matthew Wolff, his brother Chase and Jason Kokrak. 

Wolff has been ditched by the team now after being involved in a high-profile feud with the 2023 PGA Championship winner. 

Chase has been relegated. It is unclear if the decision for McDowell to sign for Smash was out of Koepka's hands. 

One 'insider' told the paper: "I'm not sure McDowell can believe his luck.

"Obviously, all was not rosy on the Cleeks and with G-Mac and Kaymer.

"He thought he was out of LIV and would have to be participating on the Asian Tour next year.

"Playing alongside Koepka – probably the best player on LIV – is a massive result for him."

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