The former world No.1 has explained why his form was derailed. Now, he tells Ben Parsons, he’s on a mission to put things right…
Dustin Johnson has long known what the problem is.
It began two years ago, just after his victory on Super Bowl weekend at LIV Golf Las Vegas, and has never truly been resolved since.
The 41-year-old, who has 31 victories worldwide across his 18 years as a professional, has pitched up here at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic on the back of his first winless season in a decade.
And ahead his first start of 2026 – and indeed a rare one on the DP World Tour – Johnson opened up on the issue that has long been derailing his results.
“I literally spent the whole year trying to find a driver,” he tells TG. “I struggled, especially through the beginning of the year, even the year before. After I won in Vegas, I broke my driver. I literally spent the whole year trying to find one.
“For me, driving is probably the most important thing in my game. I was just struggling to find something that was consistent. If I was driving it good, I was a little off with my irons. If I hit my irons really good, my driver was off. I couldn’t find anything to match.
“Even this past year, I struggled for the most part. I finally started driving it better about halfway through the year, a little more consistent. I had a few chances to win there at the end of the year. It’s been a little bit of a struggle, a little frustrating. But kind of knew what it was.
“I’ve always been fairly long. I’m not the longest – the kids that come out these days are so long. I’m still long, but really straight. Just not having the confidence in that part of my game has really hurt it.”
Johnson finished 14th in LIV’s individual standings in 2025 but did not figure in the majors at all. The burly American has become a peripheral figure at the elite level and that doesn’t sit well, even if his demeanor says otherwise.
The struggles last season also coincided with Johnson’s high-profile split from TaylorMade, the company the former world No.1 had worked with since he first turned professional.
Johnson became an equipment-free agent for the first time and, at times, there has been too much choice for the most important club in his bag.
He began using the Titleist GT2 last season and has tested countless others, too. Now though, he’s finally found another club that could solve his woes. The revered TaylorMade Qi4D.
“This new TaylorMade, it’s really good,” he says. “It’s the best one they’ve made in a few years.”
Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler, who have both added the new driver to their bags for 2026, would surely attest to that too.
“It’s something I’m used to swinging,” Johnson adds. “I’ll bring them both with me. But yeah, TaylorMade will be in the bag, I think. It’s really easy for me. When I find one I like, it’s easy. Because it’s what I’m used to looking at. I’ve been driving them pretty good here at home playing.
“I’m excited. I’ve been driving them pretty good at home playing so I’m looking forward to the season.”
Last year, Johnson raised eyebrows when he told the Associated Press his tentative retirement plans.
“I think I’ve got another six years in me,” he said. “I can grind for another six years. And then I’m going fishing.”
Those comments added weight to the idea that Johnson is winding down in his forties and his time as a serious threat in the biggest tournaments is over.
But after signing a new multi-year contract with the 4Aces on LIV – while also adding PGA Tour winner Thomas Detry to his team – Johnson insists that he is far from done yet.
“I don’t really have a timeline,” he clarifies when asked about life after golf. “Just when I don’t enjoy it anymore. Like now, I still enjoy competing. I still want to compete. I still feel like my game is good enough to get back to the top of the golf. I still feel like I’m good enough to do that. Once that goes away, that’s when I’ll stop.”
Johnson’s position in the majors, meanwhile, is as precarious as it has been in his entire career. He is of course exempt to play the Masters for life, but his five-year exemption into all four majors which came from his win at Augusta National in 2020 is now up. He’s eligible for the US Open this year, but the decade-long exemption from his 2016 victory at Oakmont will then expire.
“As long as I play well, I think I’ll get in,” Johnson, who is absurdly now down to 639th in the Official World Ranking without access to ranking points on LIV, says.
“If I play well, I think I’ll get into them. I want to play and compete. I still feel like I’m good enough to compete with the best. Obviously, this year is a big year. I need to play well. I’m looking forward to it.”