Graeme McDowell gave LIV a lifeline as part of Brooks Koepka's Smash team

Graeme McDowell found himself in a difficult position when he finished 40th in this year's rankings. Photo: Getty Images/Ezra Shaw

Graham McDowell was handed a LIV life preserver by Brooks Koepka, the Irishman will be announced as the newest member of the breakaway league's Smash team.

McDowell, 2010 US Open winner turned Cup legend Ryder, having won Putt at Celtic Manor that year, was almost certain to be released by LIV last month after missing the top 24 in the 48-man series.

At the time As fellow European greats Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson were given longer contracts, McDowell only secured a two-year deal when he signed it ahead of the first LIV event 18 months ago.

He continued to actively participate in tournaments. he was regularly invited to press conferences where he felt obliged to answer questions about the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia.

“I was not a paid ambassador for human rights in Saudi Arabia. I was a paid ambassador for a golf tour,” McDowell said in a recent interview.

“You start answering questions that cannot be answered. I regret these answers, but that doesn't mean they were necessarily wrong; that's what we were willing to say with this golf tour that is paying me.

“I am not being paid by a human rights organization in Saudi Arabia, I am being paid by this new startup golf tour, which is a financially lucrative opportunity for me at this stage my career. The end.

“Of course, it was about money. It didn't need to be said. Of course, that's why I was there — it was a business decision.»

The saga has also pitted him against Rory McIlroy, once his closest confidant but who has become LIV's most vocal critic, accusing his former Ryder Cup teammates of «betraying».

Still, despite the fact that that his reputation had been tarnished and he had earned more than £4 million from 22 tournaments, the former world number four found himself in a difficult position as he finished 40th in this year's standings. .

McDowell may have hoped to be recruited by Cliques captain Martin Kaymer, but his Ryder Cup teammate indicated his intention to look elsewhere and McDowell appears to have been left out.

Another member of the team Kaymera of four people. Bernd Wiesberger has decided to reapply for membership of the DP World Tour and Telegraph Sport reported last week that the Austrian would be welcomed back to his home country after LIV pays an outstanding £1.5 million fine.

< p>However, it is understood that under the terms of the contract with LIV, McDowell would have to pay the financial penalty out of his own pocket. He would eagerly await news of ongoing negotiations between the PGA Tour and DP World Tour with the Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund, which funds LIV.

However, these peace talks can be described as uncertain at best, and there is virtually no prospect of white smoke in the next six months.

Five-time big winner So Koepka's patronage is a huge boost for McDowell, a popular rival from Portrush. Team Smash are much more likely to do better in the LIV team competition than the Cliques, who now need two players to join Kaymer and English veteran Richard Bland.

“I'm not sure McDowell can believe in your luck. «, the insider said. «Obviously, things weren't so rosy for Clicks, G-Mac and Kaymer. He thought he had left LIV and would have to compete on the Asian Tour next year. Playing next to Koepka — arguably the best player LIV is a huge result for him.”