How Dustin Johnson plans to solve problem with LIV Golf signings

Dustin Johnson is braced for another winter of change at LIV Golf.

Aside from his victory in Las Vegas back in February, Johnson has had an indifferent season, making no impact in the majors and posting a series of average results on the breakaway league.

Unfortunately for the two-time major champion, so have some of his LIV teammates. Two of the players on Johnson’s 4Aces team are facing threat of relegation ahead of LIV’s final individual event of the season in Chicago.

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Pat Perez and Harold Varner III are both just above the Drop Zone and there is a slim chance that both could be axed from the league next month with poor results in the relegation scrap.

While Patrick Reed – the other Masters champion on his team – is safe, Johnson realises that his quartet of American veterans could well be split up for the 2025 campaign.

And that means he is already planning ahead.

Chris Rosaasen, the 4Aces General Manager hired by Johnson earlier this year, says in the new edition of bunkered that he is having regular discussions with Johnson about potential additions.

“Some of our players have their fate in their own hands and there’s nothing we can do about it,” Rosaasen admitted. “I have been approached by some other GMs and captains about some interest in our players. Nothing will happen until the end of the year but there definitely could be some shake-ups.”

The recruitment drive for LIV teams is more thorough than some might anticipate. While Johnson may have short-term problems to fix with his own team, Rosaasen explained that the pair are already plotting years ahead with targets emerging from both college and high-school golf.

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“DJ is a captain and owner of the team so his name will theoretically be associated with this for all time,” Rosaasen continued. “But he wouldn’t argue this. I don’t think he’s going to be playing 15 years from now.

“He and I have sat down and said ‘how are we going to build the foundations for what this team is?’ Its even to scout kids who might be able to be on this team 5-10 years from now. Good high-school players, good college players.

“We’re building the budget for next year to start outfitting these guys so its almost like the minor leagues for 4Aces. So we contact these guys who we think might be good and its like ‘hey why don’t we sponsor you now?’ Wear the 4aces kit in all your other competitions and we’re starting to start you guys early.

“Even down to high school. It’s crazy how young these guys are turning pro these days. You’ve got to start looking early, for sure. This has all started happening in the last couple months that we’ve started thinking that way.”

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This conversation with the 4Aces GM is just a snippet from a special report on LIV Golf’s team project. To read the full story, pick up the new issue of bunkered, on-sale Wednesday 28 August from all good newsagents. Alternatively, take out a subscription here and never miss another edition.

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.