Dustin Johnson faces first winless year in more than a decade

Dustin Johnson is on the verge of not winning a professional golf event in a calendar year for the first time in a decade.

Dustin Johnson
Dustin Johnson

Major champion Dustin Johnson is on the verge of not stepping into the winner's circle for the first time in more than a decade. 

The LIV Golf man is in the Philippines this week making a rare appearance on the Asian Tour's International Series. 

American Johnson, 41, is among a strong field that includes his 4 Aces teammate and fellow Masters champion Patrick Reed. 

Relegated LIV Golf pro Anthony Kim and fellow major champions Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel are also in the field.  

The Bryan brothers, of YouTube fame, have also accepted invites from the tournament sponsor. 

But for Johnson, he enters knowing that for the first time in 10 years he is on the verge of ending the season without a trophy. 

Since 2015, Johnson has picked up at least one victory on the PGA Tour or in the lucrative LIV Golf League. 

The former World No.1 didn't seem too fussed about the prospect when he spoke to reporters in a pre-tournament news conference on Wednesday. 

"I think growing the game is very important," he said when asked why he decided to make the trip this week. 

"Obviously, LIV Golf has done a great job leading that effort. 

"The International Series and the Asian Tour continue to expand golf's reach by playing all over the world, bringing golf to parts of the world that I have never been to, and that a lot of golfers have never been to.

"I think this is great for the game. The game of golf is growing a lot, and playing in places like this really helps."

Should Johnson not win this week, he'll likely have one more opportunity to enter the winner's circle. 

He is scheduled to take part in the Saudi International next month. 

Johnson, who also missed out on the US Ryder Cup team after a dismal season, last tasted victory at LIV's stop in Las Vegas in 2024. 

At the time, it represented his third LIV Golf win. 

Johnson turned professional in 2007 and won 24 PGA Tour titles, including victories at The Masters and US Open, before he decamped to LIV Golf. 

He also spent 135 weeks atop the OWGR. 

Dustin Johnson wins by year

Year

Wins

2008

1

2009

1

2010

2

2011

1

2012

1

2013

2

2014

0

2015

1

2016

3

2017

4

2018

3

2019

2

2020

3

2021

1

2022

1

2023

1

2024

1

LIV Golf rule change

Elsewhere, LIV Golf have confirmed a small rule change for the 2026 campaign. 

According to a report by FlushingIt, all new contracted players will be required to peg it up in at least two events per year in the International Series. 

The leading player in the International Series also earns a full-time spot with the breakaway league for the following campaign. 

The rule marks the clearest sign yet that LIV Golf and the Asian Tour’s International Series are becoming fully intertwined — and it's a huge boost for the Asia-based circuit that has served as a feeder into LIV since 2022.

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