Dustin Johnson was perhaps one of the more surprising names listed in the field for the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow next week, with the LIV Golf star relying on an invite for the second major of the year.
Dustin Johnson has arguably been one of the more intriguing names at the top of the game in recent years. Of course, he is a two-time major champion and former world number one, who was arguably almost as impressive as anyone since Tiger Woods during his time at the game’s summit.
However, his decision to join LIV Golf has perhaps marked a turning point in his career.
Johnson did enjoy some early success on LIV. However, he has just two top 10s in the majors since the start of 2022. Meanwhile, he has five missed cuts – including at The Masters last month.
What people on LIV Golf think of Dustin Johnson after he receives an invite to the PGA Championship
He previously kept his place in the PGA Championship by way of winning at Augusta National back in 2020. However, that exemption has now expired, and thus, there was a real question mark over whether he would be in the field for Quail Hollow.
And speaking on the Golf Channel Podcast, Rex Hoggard suggested that the 40-year-old probably is fortunate to get an invite, particularly based on what has been said about how seriously he is taking playing on LIV.
“The one I cannot [make an argument for], and I know the bots are going to come after me, I know it, leave me alone, don’t do this, but I don’t understand Dustin Johnson,” he said.
“And I say that, not based on his resume, because based on his resume, he’s a Hall of Fame golfer, this has nothing to do with that. Even Data Golf, your beloved Data Golf, which you will always go back to because they are the only ones that have found a way to bridge a gap between the two tours and come up with some sort of comparison, even they have him at 141st in the world ranking right now – well outside of what would be the normal threshold for the PGA Championship, which is the top 100 essentially is what they want to make sure to get into.
“Even on LIV Golf this season, against that limited number of competition, he’s 28th on that points list, he’s not playing well this year. He hasn’t played particularly well on LIV Golf or anywhere else for the last two years. I think the first year on LIV Golf, you could make the argument he was dominant. I’m not quite sure how much interest he has in playing professional golf at this point. By most accounts of people I talk to who are out on LIV Golf, they say he’s pretty much, I don’t want to say mailed it in, [but coasting]. He got a very large pay check to go and play on LIV Golf and he’s making the most of it, and he’s enjoying himself. Nothing absolutely in the world wrong with that. My only point in this is why did he get that invitation?”
How Dustin Johnson has performed on LIV Golf in 2025
It is remarkable just how poor Johnson has been on LIV this year.
He has managed to register two top 10s along the way, but that was only after finishing 44th in Riyadh, 31st in Adelaide and 54th in Hong Kong.
That has left the 4 Aces captain down in 28th place in the current standings, with all three of his teammates ahead of him right now.
There have been flashes of brilliance along the way. And perhaps his laid back style makes the perception worse when he is struggling for form. But on the course at least, Johnson is giving the impression of being someone who does not have the same hunger that perhaps he once did.
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