McDowell eyes Ryder Cup captaincy in Adare

Graeme McDowell on the 13th green during the second round at the 2020 U.S. Open at Winged Foot Golf Club (West Course) in Mamaroneck, N.Y. on Friday, Sept. 18, 2020. (Robert Beck/USGA)

Graeme McDowell would love to make a fifth Ryder Cup appearance under Pádraig Harrington but admits a vice-captain’s role would be the perfect stepping stone to becoming skipper himself at Adare Manor in 2027.

After winning in Saudi Arabia in February, the Portrush star (41) makes his first appearance in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship for six years, determined to hit the ground running.

But while he still believes he can rub shoulders with the best players in the world, he knows an assistant’s role at Whistling Straits would help his bid for the captaincy on Irish soil.

“I still harbour outside hopes and beliefs and dreams of making the team as a player,” McDowell said in Dubai yesterday. “Obviously, goal number one is to make as a player. But if I don't, absolutely. I mean, I want to be a captain one day.

“Experiencing those weeks and other captaincies, especially legendary players like Pádraig Harrington, that experience will stand me in good stead if I ever eventually become a Ryder Cup captain myself.

“Does that captaincy in 2027 at Adare Manor have my name on it? Who knows? There's a lot of water has to flow under the bridge between now and then.

“Obviously, if I'm not playing, being a vice-captain and being at these Ryder Cups and being with these players, watching the next generation of Ryder Cup heroes coming through in Europe and being someone these guys can trust, I think is something that I will look to work on over the next six years.”

Ranked 26th in the Race to Dubai, McDowell tees it up with Martin Kaymer (0650 Irish time), the man who pipped him to the Race to Dubai title in 2010, knowing he must win and hope that leader Patrick Reed finishes worse than solo second if he’s to become European number one.

Reed knows he will become the first American to be crowned European number one if he wins at Jumeriah Golf Estates.

Graeme McDowell hits an approach shot on the fifth hole during the first round at the 2020 U.S. Open at Winged Foot Golf Club (West Course) in Mamaroneck, N.Y. on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020. (Jeff Haynes/USGA

But victory would also be enough for Tommy Fleetwood, third-ranked Collin Morikawa and fourth placed Lee Westwood, which is why McDowell is determined to psyche himself up to go low from the start after he “hit a brick wall” in terms of self-motivation in the Covid-19 bubble after winning the Saudi International earlier this year.

“I'm in the world's top hundred thanks to that; I got some major championships thanks to that, and I've renewed my belief in myself as I move into my mid-forties,” he said. "So I'm excited. I'm probably feeling as excited and motivated in a sport as I have in five or six years, which is really important.

“I feel good. I feel healthy, and I'm excited about what I can achieve. I want to be back up there with the best players in the world because I think I can be there.”

The 2010 US Open champion has played in four Ryder Cups since 2008 and after clinching the winning point in 2010 and playing on winning sides in 2012 and 2014, he hopes he will be one of the players the new generation will look up to when it comes to choosing a captain for 2027.

Pleased to see young guns such as Dane Ramus Højgaard and Sweden’s Viktor Hovland coming through, he added: “The backbone of why Europe was so successful in the 90s was Monty, Faldo, Seve, Lyle, Langer and then you move into the Westwoods, Clarkes, Donalds, Poulters, Caseys, Harringtons, Stensons, myself.

“And now we're moving into the Rory, Rahm, Tommy, Tyrrell Hatton, Francesco … The next generation is starting to separate themselves, which is exciting.

“We missed out Sergio. I mean, we are going to miss out names there. But we all know who the backbones have been and the new nucleus is starting to form, and it's going to be exciting.”