It was back in June of 2022 that Dustin Johnson resigned from the PGA Tour to join the upstart LIV Golf. For the two-time Major winner, he couldn’t have imagined the backlash that decision would bring.
Fast forward 15 months, and Johnson was left off the U.S. Ryder Cup team by captain Zach Johnson despite getting five PGA Tour wins this past season.
According to the 39-year-old star, there’s one primary reason for this. Johnson believes that his move to LIV cost him a spot on the Ryder Cup team.
“If I would have been playing on [the PGA Tour], yeah, I would have made the team. Do I think I can help the U.S. team? Absolutely,” Dustin Johnson told The Palm Beach Post.
Johnson admits that he didn’t play well this past season. He did finish in the top-10 of the U.S. Open but tied for 48th at the Masters, 55th at the PGA Championship and missed the cut altogether at The Open Championship.
It must be noted that reigning PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka is the only LIV regular on the 12-member Ryder Cup team with things set to get going September 28.
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Dustin Johnson, LIV drama and the Ryder Cup
It was back in July that Zach Johnson indicated LIV golfers were eligible to be a part of the Ryder Cup team. Though, that came with a caveat.
“These guys that left the PGA Tour that had status and left to play on that other tour, the LIV Tour, they’re still members of the PGA of America, so they are still able to garner points,” Johnson said. “They’re able to play in the PGA Championship as a result because that’s what the PGA of America runs. Obviously, technically, can still be a part of Team USA.”
Zach Johnson on LIV golfers and the Ryder Cup Team
Months earlier, Johnson indicated that LIV golfers were not on his radar as he was preparing to make selections. “It’s not even a discussion item,” the captain said.
This doesn’t exactly inspire confidence that it was a fair selection process for the 12-member team.