Dustin Johnson commits to $9m DP World Tour event

Dustin Johnson will begin his 2026 season by making his debut in a DP World Tour event. 

The LIV Golf man has become the latest high-profile player to commit to the $9m Dubai Desert Classic. 

The Rolex Series event, played over 22-25 January at Emirates Golf Club, will also have Masters champion Rory McIlroy and several of his European Ryder Cup teammates in the field. 

Tommy Fleetwood, Viktor Hovland, Shane Lowry and Tyrrell Hatton - the champion in 2025 - will also be teeing it up. 

For Johnson, it represents the first time he has played in the prestigious tournament. 

Colin Montgomerie, Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia, Jose Maria Olazabal, McIlroy, Seve Ballesteros and Henrik Stenson are all former champions. 

"I've heard great things about the event and Emirates Golf Club," Johnson said.  

"When you look at past champions like Seve, Tiger and Rory, you know it's a really prestigious tournament with incredible history.

"I'm excited to compete for the Dallah Trophy and be part of what is always a world-class field."

It is unclear if Johnson will play any more DP World Tour events before LIV Golf's fourth season. 

LIV's 2026 campaign kicks off under the lights in February in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 

Johnson was among the first wave of players to join LIV Golf in June 2022. 

It is understood Johnson recently signed a contract extension to remain on the Saudi Arabia-backed league for the 2026 season. 

Johnson is the captain of the 4Aces quartet, with Patrick Reed, Thomas Pieters and Talor Gooch his teammates.

Johnson looking to get back to his best

Dustin Johnson, who previously held the number one position in the OWGR for 135 weeks, had a forgettable 2025 season. 

The American missed cuts at The Masters, U.S. Open and PGA Championship. 

His best finish on LIV Golf saw him finish third in Indianapolis. It represented his first winless season since in more than a decade. 

Despite the poor form, Johnson stated that he is far from done. 

He has outlined plans to try and return to the United States Ryder Cup team in 2027. 

When Johnson last represented the stars and stripes he enjoyed a dream week, going 5-0 at Whistling Straits as Steve Stricker's dozen dismantled Padraig Harrington's Europe 19-9. 

The biennial contest will be played at Adare Manor, Ireland, in two years' time. 

Johnson, who told FlushingIt he has mainly struggled with driving the golf ball this year, said: "I just need to play a bit better and I can be there for Adare.

"I finally feel like I have my game coming back into form. I've got a lot more confidence in it and I am starting to swing it well again.

"I went through about a year where I just wasn't swinging at it very well. 

"But I feel I am now starting to hit a lot of nice shots and feel a lot more consistent.

"The last few months have been nice."