Rory McIlroy's former Ryder Cup teammate offers unsurprising verdict: "I'm not having a moan"

Rory McIlroy's former Ryder Cup teammate Graeme McDowell is backing the Northern Irishman to break his major drought in 2025. 

McDowell made the comments in an interview with bunkered before LIV Golf United Kingdom. 

McIlroy brought his 2024 major season to a close with a missed cut at The Open at Royal Troon. 

In truth, the four-time major champion was abysmal by his lofty standards. 

Would it be unreasonable to suggest that the only thing McIlroy, 35, will be thinking about over the next few months is finally getting over the line at Augusta National?

"This has obviously been a difficult time for Rory in the majors and, obviously, with what happened at Pinehurst," McDowell told the publication, alluding to his devastating defeat to Bryson DeChambeau at the U.S. Open. 

“But listen, he's still one of the most talented players I've ever seen, to this day. The way he's played over the last couple of years with what he’s been dealing with, on and off the golf course, has been incredible.

"I think, potentially, when he gets to the majors, the noise maybe loudens a little too much for him, the noise that he's got himself involved with, you know, the PGA Tour and the work he’s done for them. It makes it more difficult.

"But now that he's taken a step back from all that, and as the dust settles this off-season and he moves into next year, I mean — look, he's too good [not to win a major again].

"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."

Major ambitions

McDowelll joined LIV in 2022 and resigned his PGA Tour and DP World Tour memberships. 

Unsurprisingly, he has fallen considerably in the Offficial World Golf Ranking. 

But he believes there is one last hurrah. 

He wants to qualify for next year's Open at Royal Portrush. 

McDowell said: I was gutted sitting at home watching the Open Championship last week. 

"And I'm not having a moan. I understand why I'm not involved, and you could argue I'm not playing good enough to be involved anyway.

"But 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. 

"I'll try and play those events next year on top of my LIV schedule."

Watched our latest YouTube video?