Dustin Johnson RESIGNS FROM PGA Tour to prioritise LIV Golf Series
Dustin Johnson revealed on Tuesday at Centurion Golf Club that he has resigned from the PGA Tour to focus on the LIV Golf Invitational Series.
Two-time major champion Dustin Johnson has resigned from the PGA Tour to prioritise the LIV Golf Invitational Series.
Johnson, 37, revealed his decision in a press conference that GolfMagic sat in on Tuesday at Centurion Golf Club.
The former World No.1 follows Kevin Na, Sergio Garcia, Charl Schwartzel, Louis Oosthuizen and Branden Grace in leaving the PGA Tour.
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Despite publicly committing to the tour in February, Johnson made a shock U-turn to commit to the new breakaway series commissioned by Greg Norman and funded by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia.
Johnson has won 24 times on the PGA Tour and earned $74,276,710 since he joined the circuit in 2008. He has also competed on the US Ryder Cup team on five occasions.
"A lot has changed (since committing to the PGA Tour) over the past few months, but I was committed to playing the PGA Tour. I'm very thankful for the PGA Tour and everything it's done for me," Johnson said.
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"I've done pretty well out there for the last 15 years but you know, this is something that I thought was best for me and my family and I'm very excited about playing.
"This is the first week and it's something exciting and something new and it's great for the game of golf and that's why I'm here.
"For now, I've resigned my membership from the tour and I'm going to play here. That's the plan. I'll look at what the consequences will be, but I can't comment on how the tour will handle it.
"Hopefully they'll allow us to play (in the majors). I'm exempt for the majors so I plan on playing there unless I hear otherwise."
Johnson sat in the press conference with Louis Oosthuizen, Graeme McDowell and Ratchanon Chantananuwat. 2010 Open champion Oosthuizen has reportedly followed suit, but McDowell is yet to resign from the tour.
Johnson has severely jeopardised his chances of playing in the Ryder Cup in 2023 and he has an uncertain future on the PGA Tour, which originally rejected releases for players to play in the first event of the LIV Golf Invitational Series.
The first event begins on June 9 at Centurion Golf Club in St. Albans near London, with the team draft set to take place on Tuesday night.
