Of all the players who left the PGA Tour for LIV Golf in 2022, none seemed to send quite the same shockwaves through the sport as Dustin Johnson did.
Dustin Johnson was arguably LIV Golf‘s biggest signing in its first year. The American was the highest-ranked player in the field for its first ever event, while he has won two major titles. He is also a former world number one.
Of course, any player’s move to LIV was particularly controversial at that time. But Johnson’s defection was arguably the most contentious given that he was one of the players who had previously claimed that he was planning to stay on the PGA Tour.
There was a lot of animosity directed towards those who decided to make the jump. And there was a stage, after the framework agreement was announced, where many were pushing for those who stayed loyal to the PGA Tour to receive some kind of compensation.
What Dustin Johnson said about PGA Tour players being compensated for not joining LIV Golf
Plenty felt betrayed by the framework agreement announcement. Those who stayed on the PGA Tour probably felt that they may as well have made the move, taken the money and come back eventually anyway.
However, not everyone clearly saw it that way.
Speaking in episode two of the second season of Full Swing, Johnson seemingly suggested that there should be a lot more gratitude towards those who joined LIV.
“No, I don’t [think the PGA Tour owes the players who stayed loyal]. The guys who went to LIV, we took a lot of criticism. We’re the ones that took the risk for everything, so why should they be compensated? Obviously, if this merger comes along, there’ll be a lot of guys who wish they would have signed,” he said.
“I played on the PGA Tour for a long time. Joining LIV, I knew I was going to get s— for it. The diehard PGA Tour fans, they were going to be upset. But if I had to do it over again, I’d make the same decision. We knew what we were signing up for.”
How Dustin Johnson has performed since joining LIV Golf
It is difficult to assess Johnson’s time on LIV Golf. He has won once in each season since making the jump, and he finished fifth in the individual standings in 2023. However, he fell out of the top 10 last year.
Meanwhile, he has not been particularly impressive in the major championships. Johnson’s best result in the sport’s four biggest events in 2024 was tied 31st at The Open Championship. He missed the cut at both the Masters and the US Open.
While it is hard to imagine Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka not being on the USA Ryder Cup team later this year, it seems much more plausible that Johnson will miss out.
He may be content with the idea that his final Ryder Cup appearance could have come when Johnson won five points at Whistling Straits in 2021.
Receive exclusive golf news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
