McDowell ready for major impact at Link Hong Kong Open

HONG KONG - If there's one thing you can expect from Graeme McDowell when he tees it up at the US$2 million Link Hong Kong Open in late October, it's that he will leave it all out there on the golf course.

Throughout his distinguished career, the Northern Irishman – known fondly as ‘G-Mac’ – has displayed an uncanny ability to grind out results.

The Smash GC star famously captured the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach in 2010, when he stared down the likes of Tiger Woods and Dustin Johnson to win the coveted major title.

Just a few months later, he confirmed his credentials by clinching the winning point for Europe in the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor with a nerveless 3&1 victory over Hunter Mahan in a pressure-packed final singles match.

At age 46 and with 16 professional victories to his name, McDowell is still hungry for success, and he will be aiming to top the podium at Hong Kong Golf Club.

This year, in addition to the US$360,000 winner’s check and crucial International Series Rankings points, victory also comes with priceless starts in the 2026 Masters at Augusta National and the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

While he has played in countless majors over the last two decades, McDowell has not played a major since the 2020 Masters, which was held in November due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Would be amazing to win," McDowell said. "I played the Masters in 2020, that was the last time I played a major. Obviously, I love what I'm doing; I love the LIV Golf schedule but I do miss the big tournaments. I miss the majors, I miss the access to those and obviously it's an amazing prize.

“There has been some great champions at Fanling and it is a golf course that I believe I can play well on, and have played well in the past there. So clearly I'll be going there next week ready to go and obviously I will be highly motivated.”

Winning, however, will not be an easy task. For the third consecutive year, the prestigious tournament is part of The International Series, the elevated set of Asian Tour events that offer a pathway onto LIV Golf. This year’s edition of the Link Hong Kong Open has attracted one of the strongest fields in the storied event’s history.

Standing in McDowell’s way are some of the biggest names in golf, including his fellow major winners and LIV Golf stars Patrick Reed, the defending champion, Louis Oosthuizen , Charl Schwartzel and Martin Kaymer.

As well as those familiar faces McDowell will also have to contend with the cream of the Asian Tour as they chase the vital Rankings points needed to take first place in the season-long race and secure a place in the LIV Golf League. His familiarity with - and affinity for - Hong Kong Golf Club’s tight and challenging Composite Course in Fanling might just tip the scales his way.

"The International Series has been a fantastic addition and it continues to go from strength to strength," McDowell said. "You’ll see that in the strong field in Hong Kong, it is heavily represented by top LIV Golf players, and it is the same in Saudi Arabia (for the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investement Advisers) - one of the best fields of the year outside the U.S.

“These pathways really matter, especially given the ongoing discussions around LIV Golf players and access to majors. The International Series and the Asian Tour play a crucial role in strengthening those opportunities.”

From 2007 to 2010, McDowell played in four successive Hong Kong Opens with a best finish of outright fifth in 2010 when current LIV Golf member Ian Poulter won. After a four-year absence when his focus shifted to the PGA Tour, McDowell returned to Fanling in 2015 and mustered a joint 24th place finish. Two years ago, in its first year on The International Series, McDowell was tied 12th.

McDowell also played LIV Golf Hong Kong at Fanling in 2024 and this year, finishing T8 and T12 respectively.

“LIV Golf has gone there the last couple of years and then back in the European Tour days, I would always come to the Hong Kong Open," McDowell said. "I feel like I must have played maybe a dozen tournaments at Fanling over the years. I love the city, I love the food and the experience of Hong Kong. I think the golf course, it's obviously such an old-school test, a classic Asian golf course.”

One of the longest-running sports events in Asia, the Hong Kong Open has been played at Hong Kong Golf Club since its inception in 1959. The Link Hong Kong Open 2025, which tees off from Oct. 30-Nov. 2, is the 64th edition.

The Link Hong Kong Open 2025 is proud of being an “M” Mark event that helps enhance the image of Hong Kong as Asia’s sports event capital. The “M” Mark is awarded by the Major Sports Events Committee, symbolising intense, spectacular and signature events in the territory’s sports calendar.

In keeping with the event theme of the Link Hong Kong Open 2025 – Open For All – admission is free for the first two rounds on Thursday and Friday. Season passes, including the final two days on Saturday and Sunday, cost HK$300 for a weekend pass or HK$200 per day. Fans aged 18 and under will enjoy free entry across all four days when accompanied by a ticketed adult or by providing a photo ID showing the date of birth.

For more information about the event, visit thehongkongopen.com. To purchase tickets, click here.