Graeme McDowell sent out a defiant message reflecting on 2022 ahead of the final LIV event of the year where he insisted that the creation of the Saudi-backed series has been 'game-changing for the sport.'
While many big names in golf have opted to join the lucrative new circuit, the 2010 US Open champ unwittingly put himself in the spotlight by repeatedly trying to justify the move rather than blanking journalists as the likes of Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson have done.
McDowell later said he'd learned his lesson, having been 'stupid enough to talk about it.'
READ MORE: Dustin Johnson admits he’s 'a little under’ LIV earnings goal despite huge £27m payout
Speaking in July, he admitted: "This has just been blown completely out of all proportion. I was on the firing line in London because I was stupid enough to talk about it.
"Listen, in hindsight I wish I'd said nothing. Genuinely, I wish I had went with the Brooks Koepka, Pat Perez style press conference.
"How many top players are going to have to play in the thing and create a product to where you guys will start talking about golf?
"I get it, the amount of s**t that's been written about me the last six weeks - it's something I have never had to deal with in my golfing career before.
"The negativity doesn't make you proud of yourself every day. You wake up hoping the narrative will change to golf soon and we can get on with it."
The formation of LIV Golf has been widely criticised as an example of 'sportswashing' since it has such strong ties to the Saudi government - a nation with an alarming record when it comes to human rights abuses.
But reflecting on what he sees as the positive impact it's had on golf, McDowell continued to champion the series as a welcome bit of competition for the traditional PGA and World Tours which will help to grow the game with its revamped format with tournaments only contested over 54 holes.
He tweeted: "It’s been an amazing year, one that has been game-changing for the sport and life-changing for me and my family.
"This weekend will finish the season in style, with the innovative Team Championship. Proud to be part of @CleeksGC and looking forward to a big few days @LIVGolfInv."
The circuit's inaugural season comes to a close on Sunday at Trump Floral in Miami, with a whopping £44 million in prize money up for grabs.
This goes on top of the £154 million already handed out across the first seven events, thanks to its backing from the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund.
It's being held at one of the many courses owned by former US president Donald Trump.
This is the second LIV event that has been hosted by the 45th president of the United States, after the circuit competed at one of his setups in Bedminster earlier this summer.
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