Dustin Johnson believes he’s made the right decision to resign from the PGA Tour and join the LIV Golf Invitational series ahead of this week’s first event at the Centurion Club in London.
Johnson said that there were a number of things that made him think long and hard about the reported near-$200 million contract, including his Ryder Cup future, but ultimately DJ feels he’s made the right call in the best interests of his family.
“It was [a difficult decision to resign knowing it would make him ineligible for the Ryder Cup], but hopefully all things are subject to change and at some point it’ll change and we’ll be able to participate.
“If it doesn’t, it was another thing I had to think long and hard about, and ultimately I decided to come do this and play out here.
“The Ryder Cup is unbelievable and something that has definitely meant a lot to me, and I’m proud to say that I’ve played and represented my country, and hopefully I’ll get a chance to do that again, but I don’t make the rules.
“I chose what’s best for me and my family.”
In what was arguably the most telling line of the entire interview, Johnson confessed “I don’t want to play golf the rest of my life, which I felt like I was probably going to have to do [on the PGA Tour].”
Johnson sits third in the all-time PGA Tour career money list having earned $74,276,710 in on-course winnings alone, yet it seems he’s fallen a long way short of an early retirement given his comments in London.
It was only in February of this year that Johnson announced his commitment to the PGA Tour but the world number 15 ranked golfer says a lot has changed in the interim and although he says he’s thankful for all the Tour gave to him, he’s excited for a new challenge with the Saudi-backed series.
“A lot [has changed] over the last few months, but at that time I was committed to playing the PGA Tour,” he said. “I’m very thankful for the PGA Tour and everything it’s done for me, I’ve done pretty well out there for the last 15 years.
“But this is something I thought was best for me and my family, and I’m very excited about playing.
“Obviously this is the first week, and it’s something exciting and new and great for the game of golf. That’s why I’m here.
“I don’t want to play golf the rest of my life, which I felt like I was probably going to have to do.
“This was something new, and I like to do a lot of other things beside golf. This gives me the opportunity to spend more time with my family, doing the things that I love to do and it’s an exciting time.
“I’m excited to be a part of it.”
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