Dustin Johnson's dismal form continued at LIV Golf Nashville with the former world No. 1 finishing almost dead last at The Grove, finishing a massive 23 shots behind winner Tyrrell Hatton.
The season started promisingly for Johnson, with a win in Las Vegas in February, but his form has tailed off dramatically since then. The 39-year-old has not been a factor in any of the three majors this year, missing the cut at The Masters and the U.S. Open, bookending a tied-43rd finish at the PGA Championship.
After a brutal stay at Pinehurst No. 2 the previous week, Johnson hoped returning to LIV would bring a change of fortune. But in prime scoring conditions, he quickly fell off the pace and finished Sunday's third and final round at four-over-par, finishing in a tie for 51st place, ahead of only dead-last finisher Danny Lee.
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Two-time major champion Johnson was one of the dominant forces in the game not too long ago, and his $150 million move to the breakaway LIV circuit in 2022 initially reaped huge rewards, winning the inaugural season title. But his performances have gradually declined and he has become an afterthought at the majors.
His weekend to forget in Tennessee comes after journalist Alan Shipnuck reported the former Ryder Cup star's team have been concerned by the impact of LIV Golf's schedule and format on his play in the majors. Johnson is said to be a creature of habit who benefits from rigorous preparation heading into the biggest tests of the year.
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But LIV's lighter schedule and – generally – easier courses compared to the PGA Tour have left Johnson seemingly unprepared for chastening tests like Pinehurst No. 2 and Augusta National this year.
Johnson's poor performances in the majors have seen him slip to 388 in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR). LIV events remain unsanctioned by the OWGR, meaning strong performances in the majors are essential for LIV players to protect their standing in the rankings.
Johnson risks missing out on playing The Open Championship and the PGA Championship in the future as a result. His 2020 win at The Masters grants him a lifetime exemption at Augusta National, and Johnson is booked in for the U.S. Open through 2026 after winning at Oakmont in 2016. But his exemptions for the British Open and the PGA expire at the end of the 2025 season.
Johnson was not the only LIV star to have a tough week at The Grove, with Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson finishing in ties for 42nd and 40th respectively. Hatton pulled clear from the field on Saturday and he rammed home his advantage on Sunday, finishing six shots clear of second-placed Sam Horsefield.