Dustin Johnson sends LIV Golf warning over reduced 10-event schedule

Dustin Johnson says he remains committed to LIV Golf and hopes the breakaway league can continue beyond this season, but acknowledged he would need to seek additional playing opportunities elsewhere if its next iteration features a reduced 10-event schedule.

Johnson was one of the first high-profile players recruited by LIV Golf ahead of its launch in 2022 and is understood to have received more than $100m simply to join the Saudi-backed circuit.

The former world number one signed a contract extension with LIV in January, three months before Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced it would withdraw its financial backing of the league at the end of the season, raising uncertainty over its future.

But LIV appears to have been handed a lifeline, with chief executive Scott O’Neil announcing on Wednesday that the league had secured an unnamed lead investor to help fund the competition in 2027 and beyond. 

London-based private equity firm BC Partners is widely believed to be the new investment partner, although no official confirmation has been made.

Two-time major champion Johnson, 42, admitted there were still "a lot of moving parts" to be resolved but welcomed the latest developments, telling reporter Garrett Johnston (in a video you can watch in full below) that he remains hopeful LIV can continue.

"Obviously, that’s really good news," Johnson told Johnston who is this week working for NUCLR Golf. 

"I missed the meetings yesterday, so I don't have a lot of information, but I think LIV's a great product and I'd love to see it continue, so hopefully that's the case."

LIV Golf have confirmed that, subject to final approval of the deal, the 2027 schedule will feature 10 events, with five tournaments taking place in the United States and five held internationally.

The likely international destinations are expected to include Australia, South Africa, Mexico, the United Kingdom and Spain given that LIV have teams representing these nations. 

But a 10-event schedule would fall short of Johnson's preferred workload. 

The American, who has been a central figure in LIV since its inception, said he would need to add further tournaments to his calendar in order to maintain his usual playing rhythm.

"Yeah, I would definitely have to play some more events," he said. 

"I’d need to play a few more, not too many more. Even my last few years on the PGA Tour, I think I played 18, 19 and 19, so that's what I like to play — between 18 and 20. That's where I keep my schedule at."

Johnson is unlikely to struggle to find additional playing opportunities, particularly on the DP World Tour, where he remains a major draw for tournament organisers.

In January, Johnson accepted a sponsor invitation to compete in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, underlining the continued appeal he holds outside of LIV Golf.

Johnson arrives at LIV Golf's stop in New York having missed his first Open Championship since 2009. 

The golfer was scheduled to take part in final qualifying but elected against making the trip across the Atlantic to keep the streak alive. 

But he believes his game is in reasonable shape. 

"It's been okay," he said. "I've had some nice stints. I feel like the game is getting close to being back in good form. 

"It's still not quite as consistent as I would like it but I see a lot of good things."

Watch Johnson's comments in full here: