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Graeme McDowell hits back at media over ‘clickbait’ quote

Graeme McDowell hits back at media over 'clickbait' quote
LIV Golf star Graeme McDowell stirs controversy with media criticism (Photo: Getty)

LIV Golf’s Graeme McDowell accuses media of misquoting him for clickbait. The journalist stands by the original quote.

Graeme McDowell sparked heated debate on social media after reacting to a quote attributed to him in an article by Bunkered.com. The quote, shared by the NUCLR Golf account on X (formerly Twitter), stated that McDowell was ‘just trying to eke out a living’—a phrase that quickly drew criticism given his multimillion-dollar career earnings. McDowell responded by calling it ‘clickbait at its finest’ and claimed he had been misquoted.

McDowell defends himself over Ryder Cup comments

The controversy stems from an interview in which McDowell discussed the possibility of captaining Team Europe at the 2027 Ryder Cup, set to take place in his native Ireland. While expressing interest, he acknowledged that his move to LIV Golf in 2022 might hinder his chances. ‘I don’t know if I should even be thinking about it because politically it might not be possible,’ he said. ‘People will say I’m getting what I deserve, but I’m not sure I agree with that.’

McDowell argued that the divide in professional golf wasn’t caused by players like him. ‘The split comes from the top players in the world. It doesn’t come from guys over 40 like me who are just trying to eke out a living and stay competitive.’ This quote was the one shared by NUCLR Golf, prompting McDowell’s public rebuttal. He later clarified that he meant to say he was ‘eking out the last few years of my playing career.’

Journalists push back against misquote claims

Ben Parsons, the journalist behind the original article, stood by his reporting, stating that audio recordings confirmed McDowell’s wording. Bunkered’s editor Michael McEwan also backed the quote’s accuracy. Other media figures chimed in, accusing McDowell of deflecting responsibility for his own words by blaming the press.

Parsons encouraged readers to review the full article to understand the full context of McDowell’s remarks. The incident highlights ongoing tensions between LIV Golf players and the media, particularly when it comes to public perception and legacy.