The departure of Brooks Koepka from LIV Golf created major changes within the league, particularly for his team, Smash GC. With the start of a new season approaching, the Saudi-backed tour had to appoint a new captain to replace Koepka. The responsibility was given to Talor Gooch, who had already built a strong reputation within the league. Recently, veteran teammate Graeme McDowell shared his thoughts about Gooch’s leadership and the team’s chances moving forward.
McDowell’s view on Gooch’s captaincy
Speaking to reporters during the LIV Golf Hong Kong 2026 tournament, McDowell emphasized how unpredictable team competition can be in the LIV Golf format. He pointed out that with multiple rounds remaining, there is still a large amount of golf left to play, meaning anything can happen before the final result is decided.
He explained that the team competition includes four players contributing scores each day, which makes results highly changeable. According to McDowell, Gooch is an excellent golfer and the Hong Kong course suits his style of play well. However, McDowell also stressed that the team still has a lot of work to do before they can celebrate any potential success.
The Northern Irish golfer also highlighted how LIV Golf’s team structure adds a different dimension to the sport. While golf is traditionally an individual game, competing for a team victory introduces additional motivation and excitement for players.
Gooch’s new leadership role
After Koepka chose to return to the PGA Tour, Gooch was selected as the new captain of Smash GC. Gooch has been part of LIV Golf since the league launched in 2022 and achieved major success when he won the individual championship in 2023.
Despite his accomplishments as an individual player, leading a team is a new challenge for him. As captain, Gooch is still searching for his first team victory in that role. McDowell acknowledged that the team dynamic in LIV Golf can provide players with extra motivation to perform well, but he also made it clear that there are still two rounds remaining in the Hong Kong event before anything is decided.
Smash GC’s early 2026 performances
So far, Smash GC has shown respectable performances under Gooch’s leadership during the 2026 season. At the season-opening event in Riyadh, the team finished sixth in the standings. In that tournament, Jason Kokrak delivered the best individual performance for the team with a score of 20-under par. McDowell followed with 14-under, Gooch finished at 10-under, and Harold Varner III recorded 8-under.
In the following event, Smash GC posted a total score of 41-under par and finished seventh overall. That time, McDowell was the team’s top performer with a 16-under score. Kokrak and Varner each posted 9-under, while Gooch contributed a 7-under score.
Strong position in Hong Kong
At the Hong Kong tournament, Smash GC appears to be in a much stronger position. After two rounds, the team sits at the top of the leaderboard with a combined score of 35-under par. Both McDowell and Varner have contributed 10-under par performances to the team’s total.
Close behind them is Torque GC, led by Joaquin Niemann, which has accumulated a score of 30-under par. With the competition still ongoing, Smash GC has a real opportunity to secure a team victory if it can maintain its strong play through the remaining rounds.
McDowell’s Ryder Cup ambitions
While McDowell is focused on helping Smash GC succeed, he is also thinking about the possibility of returning to the prestigious Ryder Cup in 2027.
The Northern Irish golfer has an impressive record in the biennial competition. Over four appearances, he has played 15 matches and achieved eight wins, five losses, and two draws, giving him a strong 60 percent win rate. One of his most memorable moments came in 2010 when he secured the decisive point for Europe by defeating Hunter Mahan.
However, McDowell’s involvement with LIV Golf has complicated his chances of participating in the Ryder Cup again. The DP World Tour has implemented rules that make it difficult for LIV players to remain eligible.
To maintain his membership with the DP World Tour and keep his Ryder Cup hopes alive, McDowell would need to pay fines imposed on LIV golfers. The same situation has affected other players, including Jon Rahm, who has also risked his Ryder Cup eligibility after declining the tour’s proposed fine agreement.
Accepting the uncertainty
Although McDowell still hopes to play a role in the 2027 Ryder Cup, he acknowledged that the chances might be limited. He suggested that the European team currently appears to be managing well without LIV Golf players.
Despite that uncertainty, McDowell continues to be respected within the golf world for his leadership abilities. Fellow Northern Irish star Rory McIlroy has previously praised McDowell for helping guide him during important moments in his career.
For now, McDowell’s main priority remains helping Smash GC succeed under Gooch’s leadership. A strong finish at the Hong Kong event could mark an important step for the team and potentially deliver Gooch his first victory as captain.