Dustin Johnson next event as LIV Golf veteran not following Jon Rahm path

Dustin Johnson’s Surprising Golf Hiatus: Why He’s Sitting Out While Fellow LIV Stars Hit the International Circuit

 

Dustin Johnson, one of the most recognized names in golf, wrapped up his LIV Golf season last month at the Team Championship in Dallas, leaving fans with a considerable wait until they see him back on the course. Unlike several of his LIV Golf counterparts, who immediately pivoted to events on the DP World Tour and Asian Tour after the 2024 season, Johnson is taking a markedly different approach, opting for an extended break from competitive play.

 

This decision speaks volumes about Johnson’s career path since leaving the PGA Tour, a move that sparked widespread debate. Johnson was one of the first big names to defect to LIV in 2022, cutting ties with the PGA Tour where he’d spent 15 years, a period in which he claimed numerous accolades, including a Masters title. Now, his schedule is built exclusively around LIV events, with only the four major championships offering opportunities for him to showcase his game outside the LIV roster. With a five-month offseason, Johnson won’t return to action until February 2025, when LIV’s new season kicks off in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

 

This lengthy break might sound surprising to some, especially since it’s nearly half a year away from the competitive greens. But for Johnson, the downtime aligns perfectly with his priorities since joining LIV. As he openly shared on Netflix’s docuseries Full Swing, Johnson’s decision wasn’t solely about shaking up his routine; it was also deeply rooted in a desire for balance. “For me, it was playing less, making more money,” Johnson explained on the show. “Someone offers anyone a job, doing the same thing they’re already doing but less time at the office and they’re gonna pay them more. Pretty sure you’re gonna take it. And something’s wrong with you if you didn’t.”

 

While Johnson enjoys this time away, his LIV colleagues seem to be following a different strategy. Many have eagerly jumped into other competitive avenues to maintain their form, sharpen their skills, and, for some, even secure DP World Tour memberships. This week, the International Series Thailand event saw five players from the LIV roster competing on the Asian Tour, with RangeGoats team member Peter Uihlein putting up a strong performance, leading the field at fourteen-under-par after 36 holes.

 

The DP World Tour has also become a popular destination for LIV players since their own season concluded in September. Among the notable returnees are Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton. Both Rahm and Hatton are actively competing on the European circuit, with each player needing to complete four DP World Tour events by the year’s end to retain their memberships and, crucially, their eligibility for the Ryder Cup. For Hatton, this journey will carry on into November, with the English golfer committed to competing in prestigious tournaments like the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship and the DP World Tour Championship.

 

Johnson’s decision to sit out is particularly noticeable given that other high-profile American players have ventured back to the DP World Tour. Recently, Brooks Koepka, Talor Gooch, and Patrick Reed made headlines by teeing up at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, alongside 13 other LIV players. Even LIV chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan made an appearance at the event, participating in the Pro-Am alongside none other than PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, a pairing that symbolized an ongoing attempt to bridge the chasm between LIV Golf and traditional tours.

 

For Johnson, though, this break seems to align perfectly with his goals in joining LIV: a less intense schedule, with lucrative rewards. His hiatus from competition might seem unusual to those who have followed his career, but for Johnson, it represents an ideal balance between life on and off the course. Whether this strategy will ultimately benefit his game or leave him at a disadvantage when he returns next February remains to be seen. However, his relaxed approach reinforces the larger theme that LIV, for some, offers more than just a new tour—it’s an opportunity to redefine the rules of professional golf and career pacing.

 

Johnson’s story stands in stark contrast to Rahm, Hatton, and the slew of other LIV players embracing global opportunities. As his peers battle it out across Europe and Asia, Johnson’s prolonged break may reveal a side of LIV that uniquely appeals to veterans like him: an opportunity to step back without stepping away completely, allowing time for reflection, recovery, and recalibration before diving back into the competition.