You reap what you sow. And Dustin Johnson has nobody responsible however himself for not making the US Ryder Cup staff. As soon as he offered out to Saudi-backed LIV Golf final yr for a reported $125 million, his margin for error to make golf’s premier staff occasion grew to become razor-thin. And it shouldn’t be a shock to Johnson that based mostly on his performances at main tournaments during the last yr he wasn’t chosen. Ending in a tie for forty eighth on the Masters, tied for fifty fifth on the PGA Championship, and lacking the minimize on the British Open doesn’t scream representing the US in any respect. And people three performances negate a tie for tenth at this yr’s U.S. Open.
Johnson has performed effectively in LIV-branded competitors, finishing 10 top-5 finishes in 11 occasions. With how upstart the LIV is, even with a merger with the PGA Tour nonetheless hiding in plain sight, it’s the way you carry out with the lights on brightest that decided Johnson’s Ryder Cup destiny. Just one LIV golfer is on the U.S. staff — Brooks Koepka, who narrowly missed being mechanically chosen to the staff based mostly on his world rating. Then got here U.S. captain Zach Johnson’s half-dozen picks. DJ has no relation to Zach, however the duo allegedly spoke this yr at main occasions, with the unselected Johnson telling the American captain his need to play for the staff. It didn’t come to fruition.
“I’d like to be part of the staff,” Johnson instructed the Palm Seaside Put up. “However to be trustworthy, I haven’t actually performed that effectively, this yr. However have I performed effectively sufficient to be on the staff? Yeah. I didn’t have one of the best yr. Was it adequate to make the staff? I believe so. If I’d have been enjoying on (the PGA Tour), yeah, I’d have made the staff.”
That earlier quote comes off as contradictory. You performed effectively sufficient to be in a selective group despite the fact that you realize you didn’t do your finest this yr? Alright, DJ. There are solely 12 spots for Individuals within the biennial match. Staying on the bubble at finest isn’t the best way to ensure you signify your nation. Take a lesson out of your fellow Saudi backer. Koepka left little question as to why he wanted to be on the Ryder Cup, defection or not. Zach Johnson stated as a lot when explaining his picks, noting Koepka actually seized the chance to play for the Individuals in Italy later this month.
Golf is a enterprise extra so than ever now of actually specializing in what you will have achieved these days. With the PGA now not the unquestioned king of the game due to the blood cash being thrown round by royalty within the Center East, acting at your finest when everyone seems to be on the identical greens and fairways is a very powerful factor. Not your historical past. In that case, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are shoe-ins for each American staff so long as they will stroll. DJ did turn into the primary American to complete a Ryder Cup with a 5-0 particular person file in over 4 a long time in 2021, and he’s been a part of 5 Ryder Cups. That holds little credence to be chosen this yr. DJ had an amazing run for the U.S. and if the aim is for the Individuals to dominate Staff Europe, prefer it did two years in the past, he wanted to remain house.
