McDowell hits $1.45 million Las Vegas jackpot with LIV team win: "I still feel like I'm good enough to win golf tournaments”
Graeme McDowell celebrates on stage with Smash teammates Captain Brooks Koepka, Jason Kokrak and Talor Gooch after the final round of the LIV Golf Las Vegas at the Las Vegas CC . Photo by Jon Ferrey/LIV Golf
Graeme McDowell was thrilled to finally reignite the fire of self-belief when he clinched his first champagne-popping finish in LIV Golf Las Vegas last night.
The 2010 US Open champion (44) had had just one top 10 since he finished tenth in that memorable opening event in London in June 2022, when he said he was "proud" to help Saudi Arabia use golf on their journey "to get to where they want to be."
But under pressure to perform for team captain Brooks Koepka, who took him onto his Smash GC this year when McDowell finished up a free agent after a poor 2023 on LIV, the Portrush man defied windy conditions at Las Vegas Country Club and shot a best-of-the-day, five-under 65 to finish fifth behind individual winner Dustin Johnson and help Smash with the team prize.
It meant a $1.45 million payday for McDowell, who won $700,000 for finishing fifth individually, three shots behind Johnson, and another $750,000 as his share of the $3 million team prize he split with teammates Koepka, Talor Gooch and Jason Kokrak.
"Yeah, they keep handing me the trophy because I've never had one before," McDowell joked during his first podium celebration in 24 LIV starts.
He'd finished a lowly 43rd on four-over in the opening LIV Mayakoba event in Mexico last week, 16 shots outside the playoff and with all four scores to count in the team format this year, he admitted the pressure was on.
"Being with these guys just kind of lit the fire for me, and that's really what I needed at this point in my career, and I still feel like I'm good enough to win golf tournaments, and that's the key for me," he said.
"Today personally was a big day. I kind of needed that; that little bit of belief in myself as we move into the season because we want to be on the podium many, many times. I think the expectation levels are very high for Smash GC this season."
Without a win since the 2020 Saudi International, McDowell still feels like a big-time player in his head, even if he is now 644th in the world.
"The expectations really are always tough to deal with in your own head," he said. "You've always got your own expectations and with three other guys and four scores to count on Sunday, it's a real thing.
"It's tough to go out there and get it done. Today, that was big for me because belief levels are hard. It's hard to top up the levels of belief and I need some more of that."
McDowell had a chance of winning the individual prize at one stage, but Johnson birdied the par-4 17th to break a three-way tie and earn his third individual trophy and 10th overall as the captain of 4Aces GC.
Cold and windy conditions were challenging for the field but meat and drink to the Rathmore man.
"I've been living in Florida for about 15 years, but thankfully, I still remember how to play in the wind," he said.
"The game has really been trending for the last six months. I kind of alluded to it earlier, the belief level. It's that little X-factor that's hard to find.
"You can't coach that. You can't learn that. You just have to go out there and kind of get it done.
"Being around this squad and, like I say, the accountability level and the work rate, the culture, I think all of those things kind of just drives us all forward, and as I said, at this point in my career, I want to be held accountable.
"I want to push myself and see what I have left in the tank."
Lowry frustrated by late bogey
Meanwhile, Shane Lowry will resume the delayed third round of the WM Phoenix Open six shots behind Nick Taylor at TPC Scottsdale.
The Offaly man had 17 holes of his second round to complete on Saturday morning and after posting a one--under 70 to share 23rd on five-under at halfway, eight shots behind Sahith Theegala, he cut slightly into the deficit last night.
While he was frustrated to make his third bogey of the round at the 14th slip back to seven-under, two-under for his round, his haul of five birdies left him tied 19th on seven-under.
First-round leader Taylor was one-under through six holes and one clear of Theegala on 13-under with Seamus Power tied 60th on two-under after starting round three with 11 pars in a row.
