The Rise and Fall of a Former World No. 1
Dustin Johnson was once the king of calm dominance, racking up 24 PGA Tour victories, two majors, and 133 weeks as World No. 1. But those days are distant memories now, as the 40-year-old golfer teeters on the edge of retirement, struggling to make cuts and slipping far down the rankings. After a rocky stint with LIV Golf, Johnson revealed ahead of the U.S. Open at Oakmont that he plans to “grind” for six more years—before trading clubs for a fishing rod.
“I Know I’ve Still Got It” — Johnson’s Hopeful Yet Fading Fire
Despite falling to 27th in the LIV Golf standings and dropping outside the top 800 in global rankings, Johnson insists he’s not done yet. “Because I know I’ve still got it,” he said. But his recent performances, including missed cuts at the Masters and PGA Championship, tell another story. His only win in the past year came in February 2024. The once-smooth swing that dominated major fields is now mostly seen in highlight reels.
The LIV Golf Shift: A Format That Changed Everything
Johnson’s decline traces back to his high-profile switch to LIV Golf in 2022. While he found early success, the change in format—shorter events, less competitive depth—has dulled his sharp edge. Without the weekly grind of the PGA Tour, Johnson admits majors now feel like the only “real” challenge. This disconnect may explain his vanishing form when facing the sport’s top players.
From Contender to Question Mark
Statistics back up the decline. Once a machine from tee to green (+1.63 strokes gained in 2020), Johnson now sits at just +0.03 on LIV. His putting is a growing liability. And while Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau have remained major threats despite joining LIV, Johnson has all but disappeared from contention.
The Legacy of a Star Who Never Backed Down
Johnson’s career has always been laced with resilience—from penalty rulings to near-misses in majors. In 2016, he famously overcame a potential penalty during the final round to win the U.S. Open at Oakmont. But 2025 Oakmont is different. This time, he’s here not as a favorite, but as a fading legend clinging to one last run.
Fishing Over the Champions Tour
What comes after his final six years? Not the Senior Tour, Johnson says with a smirk: “If I’m playing the Champions tour, something really, really went wrong.” He might be joking, but his tone speaks volumes—this could be the last act of a decorated, yet complex, career.
Can DJ Reclaim His Glory?
The biggest question in golf now is this: Can Dustin Johnson rediscover the magic, or has the LIV Golf move permanently altered his legacy? Time is ticking—and Johnson knows it.