Graeme McDowell admits he received death threats after joining rebel LIV Golf

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Journalist and author Alan Shipnuck has claimed that Northern Irish golfer Graeme McDowell received “death threats” following his move to join LIV Golf back in May 2022. Posting on X, Shipnuck gave an insight into a conversation he had with the four-time PGA Tour winner where he admitted to the “ugly” reaction he received following the move.

McDowell joined the Saudi-backed LIV Golf on a lucrative contract following almost a decade on the PGA Tour. During this time he was named in four Ryder Cup teams, reached his highest career ranking of World No. 4 in January 2011 and won four PGA Tour titles – including the 2010 U.S. Open Championship at Pebble Beach.

The 44-year-old’s move to LIV, however, was met with harsh criticism among fans and players who were critical of the league’s extortionate prize money which is financed by the Public Investment Fund, the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia – which has been criticised for its human rights abuses.

Both the PGA Tour and LIV Golf have since announced a shock merger that brings to an end the ongoing feud and litigation battle between the former rival tours.

It now appears that McDowell bore the brunt of this abuse, according to Shipnuck. While responding to his X followers following the release of his new book “LIV and Let Die” the journalist revealed a conversation he had with the Northern Irish golfer where he “got death threats after his ill-fated press conference at the first-ever LIV event in London.”

The post, where he refers to the pair’s conversation, said: “‘It was ugly,’ he [McDowell] says. ‘What I realised afterward was that no matter what I said, it was going to be the wrong thing.

“‘I played poorly for months after that because I was wounded by the criticism. I learned about myself that I really do care what people think of me. My skin is a little thicker now, but I’m not going to lie, it hurt.'”

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After announcing that he was joining LIV in 2022, McDowell was upfront on his reasons for making the move. “It is about the money, and I think most guys would happily say that to you,” he said in an interview with BBC Sport. “They’re there for the financial opportunity, no doubt about it.

“There is more to what it is we’re trying to create: a new product for the fans,” he added. “The 54-hole shotgun team format is fun, it’s different. But no one cares about that right now, they only care about the negativity. Am I out there for the money? Yes, of course I am.”

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