Not many liked the idea of pitting the 2-time major champ against the 39-year-old. When LIV Golf teased a possible 1v1 9-hole match between the two LIV Golf Pros, the community couldn’t help but find the whole situation funny. Despite such intense backlash, it appears the Saudi-backed league has gone ahead with the match-up between Dustin Johnson and Anthony Kim, creating even more chatter on the internet.

An announcement was shared by the official X handle of the 40-year-old’s team, 4AcesGC, on the Saudi-backed league and subsequently reshared by LIV Golf as well. It showcased a collage of the two athletes with the caption, “Dustin Johnson & Anthony Kim are confirmed to do a 1v1 match.”

The two, meanwhile, reportedly shared a connection even before Kim joined LIV Golf. The PIF-funded circuit roped in the 3-time PGA Tour champ after 4Aces GC skipper Dustin Johnson’s persuasion, despite him not being able to play golf like he used to before. And now, the circuit seems to be making the best use of the golfer by matching him up alongside the 24-time PGA Tour champ. And it sure did lead to many on the internet raising their heads.

Netizens dub the pair-up between Kim and Dustin Johnson a ‘joke’

Dustin Johnson is currently placed at the 11th spot on the season-long leaderboards at the Saudi-backed league. He has done so while raking in 3 top-10 finishes this season, including a T7, a T5, and a victory at Singapore, Mayakoba, and Las Vegas, respectively. Moreover, he has also led his team to T3 standings and a T2 finish at Vegas and Miami, respectively. This is in stark contrast to Kim, who is currently placed T55 on the standings without any points. A fan consequently said, “I mean DJ should easily win this,” while another commented, “DJ would win it with 4 clubs in his bag if he actually played like he cares (which hasn’t exactly been the case lately).” The golfer had placed himself at the top back in 2022 and at T5 in 2023, causing the user to respond in such a manner.

“This has to be a joke,” responded an enthusiast as they learned about the matchup. One can’t blame them since Dustin Johnson hasn’t had the best of seasons this year, even at the majors. He missed the cut at the 2024 Masters and the U.S. Open but finished T43 at Valhalla. On the other hand, Kim hasn’t managed to go past T46 on the standings in any of the LIV Golf events. As a result, a certain follower didn’t shy away from dishing out a harsh comment: “Why? Nobody cares.“

Anthony Kim made a comeback into the sport after a 12-year-long hiatus as a result of his multiple injuries. The golfer divulged, in an interview, how he had undergone multiple surgeries, including a spinal fusion, among others. Moreover, he also broke his ankle nine months ago. And now, the athlete has made a return to the game and is slowly picking up the pace. Hinting at the same, a fan commented, “Honestly, AK would surprise me if he won since he’s still on his comeback and Sharpening his game.”

While the tease of the pair-up between Dustin Johnson and Anthony Kim didn’t have the best of reactions, the same wasn’t the case with the actual announcement. Regardless, who do you think would win the matchup? Let us know your pick!