Dustin Johnson’s anchor sponsor, Royal Bank of Canada, could soon cut bait with the golfer over his entry into the Saudi-backed LIV Tour.
RBC released a statement Tuesday night noting disappointment in his decision:
“RBC is a proud partner of the PGA Tour. Our partnership is anchored with two world-class golf tournaments – the RBC Heritage and the RBC Canadian Open,” the statement read. “The PGA Tour has been clear about its intentions in accordance with its tournament regulations should a golfer choose to play in a tournament outside the tour, including the LIV Golf Invitational Series.
"We were recently made aware that Dustin Johnson made the decision to play the LIV Golf Invitational Series opener. DJ has been a valued RBC team member since 2018. While we are extremely disappointed in his decision, we wish him well."
Greg Norman celebrated the addition of Johnson to the new tour as the arrival of free agency in golf.
"This is an opportunity to start a movement that will change the course of history by bringing new and open competition to the sport we all love. The desire shown by the players to participate in LIV Golf demonstrates their emphatic belief in our model and confidence in what we're building for the future," he said. "We couldn't be happier at the diversity of our field, featuring players from around the world including major champions and those making their debut with us competing in their first professional event."
Johnson, 37, was the biggest previously-unreported name in the field for the tour-opening event, which does not include six-time major champion Phil Mickelson. The circuit, seen as a potential rival to the PGA Tour, became controversial for accepting financing from Saudi backers.
Johnson – who won the Canadian Open in 2018 – and other members could face punishment for choosing the LIV Golf event without the tour’s permission
“We’re urging all golfers playing in this tournament to speak out about human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia,” said Sacha Deshmukh, Amnesty International UK’s chief executive.
“Saudi Arabia’s persecuted human rights community will feel bitterly disappointed if well-paid golfing superstars take the LIV Golf cash but stay silent about what’s happening in Saudi Arabia.”
Other notable names in the field include Englishmen Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Richard Bland, Spaniard Sergio Garcia, Kevin Na, Talor Gooch, Germany's Martin Kaymer and South Africans Louis Oosthuizen and Branden Grace.
The PGA Tour did not grant its members a release to play in the event, which will be contested from June 9-11th, opposite the Canadian Open. Johnson – who won the Canadian Open in 2018 – and other members could face punishment for choosing the LIV Golf event without the tour’s permission.
Johnson, who has dropped from third to 13th in the official World Golf Ranking this year, is the highest-ranked played listed in the field. The former world No. 1 previously said in a statement that he was “fully committed to the PGA Tour.”
The startup league became radioactive after Mickelson admitted to author Alan Shipnuck that the Saudis were "scary (expletives) to get involved with," but that he planned to deal with them anyway as a leverage play to get more money out of the PGA Tour, including getting players their individual media rights.
Johnson and several other PGA Tour stars said in February that they were committed to the PGA Tour, and Mickelson issued a mea culpa for his actions and took a leave of absence from the game. He did not compete in the Masters or the PGA Championship, the first two majors of the season.
Mickelson’s representatives filed a request for him to play in the LIV event at the same time that he registered for the PGA Championship and US Open. After he withdrew from the PGA the Friday before it began, it’s unclear when he will make his return to the sport.
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