The former world No.1 had a blunt response when asked about on Brooks Koepka’s return, while Bryson DeChambeau’s future and LIV’s failure to secure world ranking points were also on the agenda…
It’s fair to assume Dustin Johnson does not share an ounce of Brooks Koepka’s buyer’s remorse.
While Koepka stunned the game by walking out on his LIV Golf contract a year early and making an instant return to the PGA Tour, Johnson wants to remain on the rival league for the rest of his career.
“I don’t see me going anywhere else,” the former world No.1 told TG and a handful of other reporters here at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, where he is starting his 2026 season in earnest.
Johnson has just agreed a three-contract extension as the captain of his 4Aces team on LIV and says he’s open to supplementing his schedule with more DP World Tour events in the future.
In an intriguing chat on the practice range at the Emirates Club, Johnson weighed in on topics including Koepka’s exit, Bryson DeChambeau’s future, teammate Patrick Reed’s shock admission, and LIV’s ongoing pursuit of world ranking points.
Here’s what DJ had to say on…
…Brooks Koepka’s LIV exit
“Look, Brooks is doing whatever he thinks is best for him. I haven’t really talked to him that much – seen him back home at practice, we played a little bit. Just haven’t talked about why or what he did it for. I can’t really comment on him. You’d have to ask him that.
“I don’t really care one way or the other. Brooks can do whatever he thinks is best. Whether he plays on LIV or anywhere else, happy for him. Doesn’t matter. Doesn’t hurt us or not hurt us, I don’t think.”
…Bryson DeChambeau’s LIV future
“Bryson obviously brings big crowds and he’s got a lot of fans. I can’t speak for him. I don’t see him going anywhere. I think he’s happy and he really likes LIV. But you need to talk to him on that one. As far as I know, he’s very happy, and he’s really enjoying playing on LIV.”
…Patrick Reed suggesting he would be open to a PGA Tour return
“I’m happy playing right where I’m at. Would I play a couple events on tour? Sure, there’s few events I that I like. But I like playing LIV and I like playing around the world and I’m very happy playing right where I’m at. It’s only getting better. We’re going to continue to grow, and the fields keep getting better, too.”
…whether LIV need to make a statement signing soon
“I don’t know. I think we have a really good quality of field. It’s only getting better. You’ve got a few of the young guys that they signed, Tom [McKibbin], Caleb [Surratt], there’s a couple other really good players. They are really good, young players and been very successful. Obviously those were good signings. They are great players and they are going to be great for a long time.”
…LIV potentially getting world ranking points
“That’s obviously definitely going to be big, which, more my opinion, we should have already had them.
“But it’s looking like we’ll get them this year, starting for the first event, hopefully. I don’t know, I don’t sit on the board of the world rankings.
“Hopefully we do get them just because they don’t really reflect the actual standings of golf right now, with how Jon Rahm and Tyrrell [Hatton] and Joaquin [Niemann] and Bryson [DeChambeau]. Myself, I’m like a thousand, I don’t even know (he’s 639th) [but] with my play over the last little while, I would say [I’m] 40, 45. I haven’t played up to my standards. But somewhere around there.”
…his future in the majors
“Good golf will take care of that. If I play well starting the beginning of the year, have a good Masters, things like that, I’ll get into all the majors. I feel like I’ve got a good with relationship with [the majors]. Obviously my game, if I’m playing well enough, then I think they will want me to play them.”