After Back-to-Back Failures, Is Dustin Johnson Playing in the 2024 U.S. Open?

This year, two fewer LIV Golf players will be at the US Open than in 2023. Representing the Greg Norman-led circuit, 13 LIV golfers have been qualified for the 124th U.S. Open. Is Dustin Johnson’s name on that list? Fortunately, yes. The 2-time major champion is the former winner at the U.S. Open.

Johnson emerged triumphant in the 2016 U.S. Open, which was his first major victory. The past winners of the U.S. Open get an exemption for the next 10 years. So, Johnson entered the 156 players’ field at Pinehurst and got the chance to prove himself in majors after missing the cut at the Masters and being T43 at the PGA Championship. Additionally, he had two more criteria through which he could qualify.

The second was the past five winners of the Masters, which the 39-year-old won in 2020 and carded his second major victory. The third was through the 10 lowest scorers and ties from the 2023 U.S. Open Championship, where Johnson finished tied for 10th. Hence, the 4Aces GC’s captain is set to battle it out for a $20 million prize purse at Pinehurst No. 2.

Johnson will join the past U.S. Open winners and LIV golfers, Jon Rahm (2021), Bryson DeChambeau (2020), Martin Kaymer (2014), and Brooks Koepka (2017 and 2018). But among the 13 LIV golfers, three top golfers from the breakaway circuit will be missing the 124th U.S. Open.

Three top LIV golfers are missing the Pinehurst field

This year, three LIV players, Dean Burmester, Eugenio Chacarra, and David Puig, qualified through the final qualifying for the 124th U.S. Open Championship. One unlucky professional who could not qualify through the final qualifying was Joaquin Niemann. The Chilean pro played the past two majors after performing incredibly on the LIV Golf, the DP World Tour, and the Asian Tour.

However, for the U.S. Open, Niemann could not qualify at the June 3rd final qualifier at The Bear’s Club in Jupiter, Florida, and missed the cut. On the other hand, Sergio Garcia was another player who entered the Dallas Athletic Club on May 20th. He entered the playoffs against seven players and was disappointed as he made the bogey and missed grabbing one spot from the 11 up for grabs.

Garcia is currently the first alternate and may enter the 156 players’ field at Pinehurst if someone withdraws. But the odds say the Spaniard’s 25th consecutive appearance at the U.S. Open may not happen. Patrick Reed is another LIV golfer to miss the U.S. Open and break his 11-year-long streak.

Reed has been playing every major since the 2014 Masters, but he withdrew from the Dallas Athletic Club qualifier due to a schedule clash and as things were getting hectic for the pro. Nonetheless, the 13 LIV players at Pinehurst will try to bring the major trophy to the breakaway circuit!