Dustin Johnson confirms SHOCK LIV Golf move after getaway with Paulina Gretzky
Paulina Gretzky shares holiday snaps with Dustin Johnson, who then returns to confirm he will be playing in Greg Norman's controversial LIV Golf Series opener in England.
Dustin Johnson returned from a quick getaway to the Bahamas with wife Paulina Gretzky and friends to confirm his participation in Greg Norman's hugely controversial new LIV Golf Invitational Series opening event in England next week.
Johnson, who recently tied the knot with long-time partner Paulina Gretzky, had made it very clear at the start of the year that he was going to be sticking with the PGA Tour at a time when strong rumours were circling of his interest in the Saudi-backed breakaway golf circuit.
Related: Dustin Johnson made late Saudi Golf U-turn after being offered $150 million
Here is what DJ had to say on February 20:
Statement on behalf of Dustin Johnson pic.twitter.com/731B4SmyQv
— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) February 20, 2022
And this is what his team had to say on June 1:
“Dustin has never had any issue with the PGA TOUR and is grateful for all it has given him, but in the end, felt this was too compelling to pass up.”
(2/2)— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelTAN) June 1, 2022
Related: Golf fans react to Dustin Johnson's shock move to LIV Golf - and what it could mean for his future PGA Tour career
Little more than three months on and Johnson has gone back on his word to line up as the lead name for the first LIV Golf event set for Centurion Club in St Albans from June 9 to 11.
On top of that, the LIV Golf opening event falls the same week as the RBC Canadian Open on the PGA Tour, meaning Johnson will be out of his own sponsor's tournament.
It's fair to say RBC are not particularly happy about it, especially given Johnson's team only notified them on Tuesday this week, not to mention his face is splashed across all of their posters promoting their event.
UPDATE: Dustin Johnson has now been AXED by RBC!
The 48-man field, which also features the likes of Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter and Martin Kaymer, will see players competing for a prize fund of $25 million.
First place wins you $4 million, and even last gets you $120,000.
And all for three days work.
Related: Here is everything you need to know about the LIV Golf Invitational Series
Johnson and Gretzky tied the knot at the end of April and they headed off to the Bahamas for a quick getaway with friends at the weekend.
Paulina, 33, took to her Instagram page to show off some snaps of the weekend, one of which was her kissing her new husband on a boat.
Johnson and Gretzky spent a few days away with their pals Kristina Melnichenko, Matt Forssman and Bravo couple Paige DeSorbo and Craig Conover.
(image credit: Paulina Gretzky / Instagram)
DJ also found some time to work on his game by hitting some balls on the driving range.
Related: Dustin Johnson and Paulina Gretzky get married in glamorous setting
Related: Paulina Gretzky shares inrcredible wedding video as Dustin Johnson gets emotional
Johnson has won 24 times on the PGA Tour, including two majors at the US Open and The Masters, and has amassed a staggering total of just shy of $75 million in all-time PGA Tour career earnings, ranking him third behind Phil Mickelson (second) and Tiger Woods (first).
Why would DJ go? The stuff you and I think about—reputation, legacy, what others think—simply don’t matter to him. He cares about his family, his close friends and that’s about it. He’s always been authentic about that. In his mind, this is the best decision for those people. https://t.co/Tripe4l93d
— Dan Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) June 1, 2022
Several golf journalists have today reported how Johnson, now 37, once told them he quite fancied the idea of calling time on his golf career in his mid 40s so that he can spend more time being a "sports dad".
So perhaps that gives even more reason for his move to LIV Golf?
For the record, I do hope that being a sports dad includes educating about sportswashing
— Sean Zak (@Sean_Zak) June 1, 2022
Johnson's team confirmed today that he had been thinking about his offer for the best part of two years.
There are eight events in total for the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational Series, with a total prize pot of $255 million.
Norman and his team also confirmed that an extra $2 billion has been pumped into the series over the next two years.
But with potential PGA Tour suspensions now on the line given his commitment to Norman's LIV Golf event, it remains to be seen just how often we see the big-hitting American on the circuit moving forwards.
Either way, one thing is for certain and that is newlyweds Dustin and Paulina will be able to afford plenty more romantic getaways in the sun.
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