Dustin Johnson sets out surprise retirement plan

Nobody ever expected to find Dustin Johnson grinding away on the senior tours. 

Johnson, who won the last US Open held at this week’s venue, Oakmont Country Club, has missed five of his last seven major cuts and has faded as a once ominous force on the biggest stage.

The two-time major champion joined the LIV Golf League three years ago for a “pretty simple” reason. “For me, it was playing less, making more money,” he said on Netflix’s Full Swing docuseries. 

And while LIV players continue to take up opportunities away from their 14 events on the breakaway league, Johnson has certainly stuck to that sentiment.

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Johnson’s last top-ten in a major came two years ago and this year’s Open Championship at Royal Portrush will be his last from a five-year major exemption after his 2020 Masters win.

The South Carolinian, does of course, have a lifetime ticket to play Augusta National, while his 10-year US Open exemption for his 2016 win expires after next year’s renewal at Shinnecock.

But Johnson has no interest in being a ceremonial golfer in the long-term future.

“I think I’ve got another six years in me,” Johnson told the Associated Press. “I can grind for another six years. And then I’m going fishing.”

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In an interview with bunkered in December, Johnson insisted he is still willing to put the work in in order to give himself the best chance to win a third major.

“Competition, winning, it’s still what drives me,” he said. 

At his pre-tournament press conference at Oakmont, the former world No.1 reiterated that he feels his game is “really close.”

“Golf is a strange sport,” Johnson said. “I don’t feel like I’ve slipped any. My scores haven’t reflected, but it is a really fine line. I remember a few years ago, I missed two cuts in a row. I think I shot 80-80, and then I won the next week.

“For me it’s always really close to being good, but just getting back there and keeping it consistent which over the last couple months, I’m starting to see a lot of patterns and the game feels like it’s coming back into good form.”

Ben Parsons is the Senior Writer at bunkered 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.