Making a decision that will mar his legacy, former world #1 Dustin Johnson has turned his back on all the money he has made on the PGA Tour and the RBC is paying him as one of their golf ambassadors, to chase even more cash on the rival LIV Golf Series in London England next week, instead of at the RBC Canadian Open.
He was joined by Sergio Garcia, Martin Kaymer, Louis Oosthuizen, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, Charl Schwartzel, Kevin Na, Graeme McDowell and possibly Phil Mickelson who has not yet been named, amongst others.
All were refused releases by the PGA Tour who will soon announce what action they will take. Commissioner Jay Monahan has said in the past it may carry a lifetime ban.
42 players have been named for the first of the Greg Norman led series that is being funded by the Sovereign Wealth Fund of Saudi Arabia. The tournament being staged at the Centurion Club in London, not far from the DP World Tour HQ, begins on June 9th, the same day as the Canadian Open and the Scandinavian Mixed event in Sweden.
Both the RBC and the Canadian Open have been taken by surprise, here's what they had to say.
“RBC is a proud partner of the PGA Tour. Our partnership is anchored with two world-class golf tournaments, the RBC Heritage and the RBC Canadian Open. The PGA Tour has been clear about its intentions in accordance with its tournament regulations should a golfer choose to play in a tournament outside the tour, including the LIV Golf Invitational Series.
“We were recently made aware that Dustin Johnson made the decision to play the LIV Golf Invitational Series opener. DJ has been a valued RBC team member since 2018. While we are extremely disappointed in his decisions, we wish him well.”
Golf Canada:
“Together with our partners at RBC, we are disappointed to learn at this late stage that Dustin Johnson has made the decision to play the LIV Golf event,” it wrote in its statement. “As a past RBC Canadian Open champion, Canadian golf fans were looking forward to DJ’s return this year. Our focus continues to be on hosting the widely celebrated return of the RBC Canadian Open and welcoming the world’s best players to Canada.”
This is what Johnson had to say via his agent and posted by Rex Hoggard:
"Dustin has been contemplating the opportunity off-and-on for the past couple of years. Ultimately, he decided it was in his and his family’s best interest to pursue it. 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."
Here is why all these players have risked their PGA/DP World Tour futures and their legacy.
The LIV event will have a purse of $25 million with the winner earning $4 million. The RBC Canadian Open has an $8.7 million purse with the champion claiming $1.5 million.
This landmark decision is sure to have lasting implications. While both the PGA Tour and the former European Tour clearly wish to protect their turf, both have had no competition before, and in fact the European Tour has had no qualms about moving into territory controlled by the Asian Tour for example, in the past.
Also Saudi Arabia despite it's brutal record in human rights, is hardly the only country with issues that the PGA/DP World Tour plays in.
Also all pros are independent contractors who have the right to ply their trade where ever they please.
Many like Rory McIlroy have made it clear they no longer need more money, and are more interested in the legacy they are building as players on the respective tours.
Dustin Johnson is not only fabulously rich with a current net worth of over $72,000,000 from golf alone, the 3rd highest in history, but he married into the Gretzky family.
Saying this is in the "best interest of his family, too compelling to pass up" will sicken many, certainly myself.
Stay tuned..
Bryan Angus
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