Dustin Johnson’s difficult 2024 campaign continued at LIV Golf Nashville, with the former world No. 1 finishing almost dead last at The Grove, well adrift of winner Tyrrell Hatton
Dustin Johnson’s poor form continued at LIV Golf Nashville, with the ex-world No. 1 finishing almost last at The Grove, a whopping 23 shots behind champion Tyrrell Hatton.
Johnson kicked off the season on a high note with a victory in Las Vegas in February, but his performance has plummeted since then. The 39 year old hasn’t made an impact in any of this year’s three majors, missing the cut at The Masters and the U.S. Open, and only managing a tied-43rd finish at the PGA Championship.
Following a tough week at Pinehurst No. 2, Johnson was hopeful that returning to LIV would turn his luck around. However, despite favourable scoring conditions, he quickly fell behind and ended Sunday’s third and final round four-over-par, tying for 51st place, ahead of only Danny Lee who finished last.
Not so long ago, two-time major winner Johnson was a dominant force in golf, and his $150 million move to the breakaway LIV circuit in 2022 initially paid off, bagging him the inaugural season title. But his performances have steadily deteriorated, making him a non-entity at the majors.
His forgettable weekend in Tennessee follows reports by journalist Alan Shipnuck that Johnson’s team are worried about the effect of LIV Golf’s schedule and format on his performance in the majors. Johnson is reportedly a creature of habit who thrives on thorough preparation before the year’s biggest challenges.
However, Johnson’s lighter schedule and generally easier courses on the LIV tour compared to the PGA Tour have left him seemingly unprepared for gruelling tests like Pinehurst No. 2 and Augusta National this year.
His lacklustre performances in the majors have seen him plummet to 388 in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR). As LIV events are not sanctioned by the OWGR, strong performances in the majors are crucial for LIV players to maintain their standing in the rankings.
This could potentially jeopardise Johnson’s chances of playing in The Open Championship and the PGA Championship in the future. His 2020 win at The Masters gives him a lifetime exemption at Augusta National, and he is set for the U.S. Open until 2026 after his victory at Oakmont in 2016. However, his exemptions for the British Open and the PGA expire after the 2025 season.
Johnson wasn’t the only LIV star to struggle at The Grove, with Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson finishing tied for 42nd and 40th respectively. Hatton pulled away from the pack on Saturday and solidified his lead on Sunday, finishing six shots ahead of runner-up Sam Horsefield.