Dustin Johnson’s ‘Commitment’ to PGA Tour Had LIV Execs Ready to Throw in the Towel

In the weeks and months before LIV Golf’s inaugural event in London, it had its eye on one PGA Tour member in particular.

It was Dustin Johnson.

After making a sweet initial offer to DJ in the months leading up to the first-ever LIV Golf event, Johnson had unequivocally ensured the PGA Tour that he was committed to it, and would not jump ship as many expected he would.

The message, which was posted on behalf on Johnson on the PGA Tour Comm’s X, then-Twitter, account, shook LIV executives to their core and had them ready to throw in the towel.

Statement on behalf of Dustin Johnson pic.twitter.com/731B4SmyQv

— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) February 20, 2022

Alan Shipnuck’s new book LIV and Let Die details the initial reaction of LIV Executives, including Yasir Al-Rumayyan, after DJ’s commitment to the Tour that had made him a millionaire.

Johnson’s statement left no room for interpretation. “I feel it is now time to put such speculation to rest,” Johnson wrote. “I am fully committed to the PGA Tour.”

These words were not minced, and for PGA Tour fans, it was what they wanted: one of the most powerful and dominant forces on Tour to stay where he had made a career. 

But for LIV Golf, it signaled the beginning of the end.

Shipnuck’s book shows LIV execs first heard about DJ’s commitment on Twitter. Noting the “complete and total panic and chaos,” LIV executives scrambled to keep hope alive. But things were not looking so encouraging.

Al-Rumayyan then organized a group call with several high-ranking LIV executives and other team members. Roughly thirty members of LIV’s upper management joined the call, including Ari Fleischer, who served as George W. Bush’s press secretary and remained on LIV’s staff as a consultant.

The call reassured that the team would “do what we have to do to launch this,” Al-Rumayyan said.

“Just get me sixteen players.”

The energy after the call was described as similar to the Wolf of Wall Street scene when DiCaprio, who portrayed Jordan Belfort, promised that he “wasn’t f***ing leaving.”

“When His Excellency finished speaking, we were all high-fiving.”

Johnson eventually committed to LIV Golf, citing that he did what was best for him and his family. He has still maintained a relationship with many of his PGA Tour peers and has competed at Major Championships.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Dustin Johnson (@dustinjohnsongolf)

But one thing is for certain, had he stayed steady with his promise to the PGA Tour in his communication on Twitter, we might be looking at a vastly different landscape of professional golf today.

Cover Image via NY Post