Topline
Dustin Johnson, the No. 6-ranked golfer in the world, became the latest top player to officially deny rumblings he may join a Saudi-funded PGA competitor, joining players like Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka to reject the league, which reportedly is in talks with former President Donald Trump to use his golf courses.
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA – NOVEMBER 15: Dustin Johnson of the United States celebrates on the 18th green … [+]
Key Facts
In a statement released by the PGA Sunday, Johnson wrote, “I am fully-committed to the PGA Tour,” putting to rest speculation of his future in an “alternate tour.”
The alternate league, deemed the “Super Golf League” and funded by former No. 1 golfer Greg Norman and LIV Investments with ties to Saudi backers, has been attempting to poach many of the top golfers away from the PGA in recent months in exchange for heavy sums, though now each of the top eight players has publicly committed to the PGA Tour.
Johnson was the last of the eight to announce his commitment, and his radio silence on the matter the past few months led some to speculate he may join.
LIV has been in talks with Trump to use his golf courses as locations for a tour, according to unnamed sources who spoke to the Washington Post for a story released Saturday.
Trump had soured on the PGA after it canceled its agreement to hold the 2022 PGA Championships at Trump’s Bedminster, N.J., course following the attack on the Capitol in January 2021.
Norman did not immediately respond to Forbes’ request for comment on Johnson’s statement.
What We Don’t Know
It is unclear how much Johnson was offered to join the Super Golf League. No. 62-ranked Ian Poulter was reportedly offered $30 million to join, and when Johnson was asked at the Saudi International if he’d been offered a similar figure, Johnson laughed, replying, “No, not similar,”—implying the offer was much larger. No. 12-ranked Bryson DeChambeau, who has yet to make a decision on joining the rival league, denied reports it offered him over $135 million to join.
Key Background
John Rahm, the No. 1-ranked golfer in the world, was steadfast in his commitment to the PGA Tour: “I am officially declaring, let’s say, my fealty to the PGA Tour,” he said in a statement, per the tour’s website. “I’m a PAC (Player Advisory Council) member and I have a lot of belief in [PGA Commissioner] Jay Monahan and the product that they’re going to give us in the future.” No. 2-ranked Collin Morikawa made a similar verbal commitment: “I’ve never thought about anything else; it’s always been the PGA Tour.”
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/masonbissada/2022/02/20/possible-trump-saudi-golf-league-dealt-blow-dustin-johnson-latest-star-to-say-no/