Ace golfer and twice-Major winner Dustin Johnson rescinded his PGA membership, opting to ply his trade in the Saudi-funded LIV Golf. The newly floated professional golf tour will run in tandem with PGA’s golfing calendar. However, without an official sanction from the Official Golf World Ranking (OGWR), the newly-floated LIV Golf will be bereft of official ranking points but promises a hefty kitty of $25 million. Johnson is perhaps the highest-profile name in a field littered with Major champions and ex-world no. 1s.

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A major in Sports Management from Coastal Carolina University, Johnson turned professional in 2007 after enjoying success as an amateur. Earning his PGA license in 2008, he won his first Tour event in New York’s Turning Stone Resort Championship. After making steady progress over the years, his first real breakout performance would come in the 2010 PGA Championship. Held at Whistling Strait’s flagship course-the Straits Course- Dustin went into the final round with a one-shot lead. After bogeying his final hole, he seemed set for a three-way three-hole playoff with Bubba Watson and Martin Kaymer. But a penalty for grounding his club in a bunker would push him back to fifth. He would better his PGA Championship showing in next year’s Open Championship. Looking assured on the St. George’s greens, he finished joint-second with fellow American Phil Mickelson but three strokes behind Northern Irish Darren Clarke.

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After years of near-misses, Dustin would claim his first major in the 2016 US Open. In his 29th Major, he would hold aloft the Wanamaker Trophy under controversial circumstances. Handed a one-stroke penalty at the end of 18 holes, the drama began as he lined up for a par putt. The ball moved a touch, but the American explained to an on-site official that it hadn’t come off his putting stick. Allowed a reprieve, he would sink the putt. While he held off Shane Lowry, Scott Piercy and Jim Furyk, winning by three strokes, a furore would ensue in the background as McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, and a few others took to social media to express anger at USGA’s decision.

Johnson would have to wait for four years for his next Major, but he did at least ensure that his drought came to an end in spectacular style. At the Augusta Masters in 2020, he would blaze through the field, claiming the Green Jacket by five strokes with a record-breaking 20 under par score of 268, bettering Tiger Woods (1997) and Jordan Spieth (2015) in the process. A man for the big occasions he would shine in the 2021 Ryder Cup, finishing undefeated with 5 wins out of five as the Americans swept Europe 19-9. He was also awarded the inaugural Nicklaus-Jacklin award for Team USA for exemplifying the spirit of the prestigious contest.

Johnson’s loss will be significant to the PGA tour. A former world no. 1- having achieved top spot multiple times over, even as recently as 2021- the 37-year-old enters LIV Golf as its most prized scalp.