Despite Choosing $150M Over Friends, Dustin Johnson Under Threat of Losing His Hard-Earned Crown Since Betraying PGA Tour

Dustin Johnson turned many heads last year when joined the Saudi-backed LIV golf in June after publicly voicing his commitment to the PGA in February. Although he received much criticism for backtracking on his statement, none of that seemed to have any effect on his form last year. He was one of those few ace golfers who carried their phenomenal form over to the rival side.

However, since winning the trophy and bagging the individual championship prize, his form has taken a hit. Currently sitting at no. 7 on the individual leaderboard he is pretty much certain to miss out on the individual trophy and a hefty sum that comes along with it.

Dustin Johnson slips up on $18M Individual Champion title

2022 was a phenomenal year for Dustin Johnson. His team 4Aces GC notched five victories in the tournament lifting the trophy at the season ending in Miami last year.

The 38-year-old golfer, too, bagged the individual championship award winning an additional $18 million in bonus raking up a whopping $35.6 million by the end of 2022. The two-time Major winner had a lead of 42 points over his closest in the race, Branden Grace, on the last year’s leaderboard.

This year, however, it’s a completely different story. Currently, sitting at the no. 7 at the leaderboard, with 111 points, he is 59 points behind the top-scorer Cameron Smith. Johnson has so far won only one event — LIV Tulsa in May. The  39-year-old golfer has managed to finish in the top five only twice this season.

Talor Gooch and Bryson DeChambeau are also jockeying for the title. The individual champion is decided based on the total points a golfer earns at the end of the season. The top scorer in each event earns 40 points, the runner-up 30 and the third-placed earns 24 points. Johnson’s run of poor form has all but kicked him out of the title race and the $18 million that comes with it.

Read More: Who Are the 4Aces GC? All You Need to Know About Dustin Johnson’s Star-Studded LIV Golf Squad

LIV Golf cost the veteran many things including a Ryder Cup spot

Dustin Johnson’s handshake with LIV didn’t sit well with many. His sponsor Royal Bank of Canada cut ties with him. The 38-year-old golfer acknowledged that his decision to join LIV prevented him from being a part of the USA Ryder Cup team. The two-time major winner believed he was still in good form to be considered for the Ryder Cup squad had he been playing on the PGA Tour.

The five-time Ryder Cupper’s run of poor form continued in the Majors as well. Tying at the 10th spot in the US Open is his only top-45 finish at the Majors.

Although his team 4Aces GC is still on top of the leaderboard, this was not Dustin Johnson’s year. With only two events left in the 2023 schedule, the 24-time PGA-tour winner will look to revive his form in the next season.

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