LIV Golf’s Dustin Johnson alludes to split as key reason for first winless season since 2014

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LIV Golf's Dustin Johnson alludes to split as key reason for first winless season since 2014

Dustin Johnson appeared to indicate he had issues with his driver after he brought the curtain down on his first winless season in more than a decade with a missed cut at the Saudi International.

Johnson has been one of the most successful golfers of the past decade-and-a-half with 22 wins across the PGA Tour, LIV Golf and in the major championships.

The former world number one has stepped into the winner’s circle every calendar year since 2014 but his poor showing at Riyadh Golf Club this week brought an end Johnson’s remarkable streak.

The American, who won the 2016 US Open at Oakmont and the 2020 Masters, acknowledged to FlushingIt that it was “an up-and-down year”.

He appeared to indicate that his split with TaylorMade also played a role in his struggles, as the 41-year-old found it difficult to get the ball in play as often as would have liked.

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Dustin Johnson

Johnson signed with TaylorMade in 2007 and spent 18 years with the OEM. GolfMagic exclusively revealed news of the split in February.

After they parted ways, Johnson put a Titleist GT2 driver into his bag.

“I’ve really struggled with the driver which is generally the best part of my game,” Johnson said. “So obviously that puts a lot of pressure on the other parts of your game.

“The weeks I drive it well, I play well [and] I have a chance to win. But, as a whole, I’ve just struggled with the driver, and I’m just finding something that I get comfortable with.

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“I have days where I drive it really well, but I’m having trouble finding a driver that matches up with the rest of the game, [so] I’m hitting irons really, really well and not driving it that great, or I’m hitting the driver good and I’m not hitting irons as good.

Dustin Johnson

“I’m just trying to get that perfect match, which is what everybody wants. That’s when I play my best.”

Johnson isn’t the only major champion who has struggled on the course this year.

Former Open winner Cameron Smith missed his sixth cut in a row at the Saudi International and has now sunk to a remarkable 333rd in the Official World Golf Ranking.

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Henrik Stenson, also a former champion golfer of the year, was relegated after finishing 49th in the individual standings.

The Swede will have the option to earn his spot back in the PIF-backed league via their qualifying school event next January.

Dustin Johnson results 2025

Tour

Tournament

Pos

LIV

LIV Golf Riyadh

T44

LIV

LIV Golf Adelaide

T31

LIV

LIV Golf Hong Kong

LIV

LIV Golf Singapore

LIV

LIV Golf Miami

T27

LIV

LIV Golf Mexico City

LIV

LIV Golf Korea

T34

LIV

LIV Golf Virginia

T10

LIV

LIV Golf Dallas

T13

LIV

LIV Golf Andalucía

LIV

LIV Golf United Kingdom

LIV

LIV Golf Chicago

T25

LIV

LIV Golf Indianapolis

LIV

LIV Golf Michigan – Stroke Play

PGA

Masters Tournament

Missed cut

PGA

PGA Championship

Missed cut

PGA

U.S. Open

Missed cut

PGA

The Open

T23

DP World

Alfred Dunhill Links Championship

T71

But it is understood Stenson is eyeing up a return to the DP World Tour.

Telegraph Sport have reported, however, that he will face difficulty getting into Europe’s top events owing to an unpublicised rule change in October 2024.

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A Tour insider criticised Stenson, explaining that it should not be forgotten he embarrassed Wentworth HQ for joining LIV after he signed a contract to lead Europe as captain at the 2023 Ryder Cup in Italy.

Ryder Cup return?

For his part, Johnson said he feels good about his game heading into 2026.

He has reportedly signed a contract extension with LIV and has outlined aspirations to represent the United States in the Ryder Cup when the matches head to Ireland in 2027.

Johnson last appeared in the biennial contest in 2021, going 5-0-0 as Steve Stricker’s side inflicted a record 19-9 defeat on Padraig Harrington’s Europe at Whistling Straits.

“I wanted to be there,” he said of the 2025 contest at Bethpage Black. Europe ran out narrow 15-13 winners in September.

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“I just need to play a bit better and I can be there for Adare.

“I finally feel like I have my game coming back into form. I’ve got a lot more confidence in it and I am starting to swing it well again.

“I went through about a year where I just wasn’t swinging at it very well. But I feel I am now starting to hit a lot of nice shots and feel a lot more consistent.

“The last few months have been nice.”