Dustin Johnson signs new LIV Golf deal: "I'm still one of the best in the world"

Dustin Johnson says he is still motivated and believes he is "one of the best players in the world". 

Johnson, now 41, quit the PGA Tour for LIV Golf in 2022 and enjoyed success in the breakaway's inaugural season. 

He was crowned their individual champion but has not won a golf tournament since their stop in Las Vegas in February 2024.

Ahead of LIV's fourth full campaign, which begins next month, Johnson told Mirror US he knows he has the skill set to get back on top.

"I mean I'm still motivated, I still love competing, you know I still feel like I have the game to compete with the best in the world," he said. 

"I still consider myself one of the best players in the world and you know I know I still have the skill set and you know the game to compete with anyone at any time and yeah just like I said over the last almost it's been about a year and a half now I've been struggling with, you know, the driver."

In a separate interview with TG, Johnson confirmed he'll be gaming the new TaylorMade Qi4D. 

Johnson is now an equipment free agent and has spent the last 12 months finding a suitable driver. 

"I literally spent the whole year trying to find a driver," he told the publication. 

"I struggled, especially through the beginning of the year, even the year before. 

"After I won in Vegas, I broke my driver. I literally spent the whole year trying to find one.

"For me, driving is probably the most important thing in my game. I was just struggling to find something that was consistent.

 If I was driving it good, I was a little off with my irons. If I hit my irons really good, my driver was off. I couldn’t find anything to match.

"Even this past year, I struggled for the most part. I finally started driving it better about halfway through the year, a little more consistent. 

"I had a few chances to win there at the end of the year. It’s been a little bit of a struggle, a little frustrating. But kind of knew what it was.

"I've always been fairly long. I'm not the longest – the kids that come out these days are so long. 

"I'm still long, but really straight. Just not having the confidence in that part of my game has really hurt it."

Johnson, a former world number one, endured a miserable 2025 season where it mattered most.

He missed the cuts in three of the four major championships, with his best finish a T23 at The Open at Royal Portrush. 

His LIV Golf contract, reportedly worth in excess of $100m, expired at the end of last season. 

Speculation mounted over whether Johnson would simply retire from the sport. 

He has placed on record his desire to retire before he is 50. 

But he has committed his future to the rival league, signing a new contract that will take him through to 2029. 

His LIV team, the 4 Aces, has also signed a new player. Belgium's Thomas Detry has replaced Harold Varner III, who is expected be traded to Smash. 

"This team is built for big moments, and 2026 is a chance for us to take another step forward," Johnson said in comments released by LIV Golf. 

"Thomas Detry is a great addition; he's confident, competitive, and that fits exactly what we’re about. We've got the talent, the chemistry, and the mindset to be right there all season."

Detry joins his compatriot Thomas Pieters in the squad. Patrick Reed is the fourth and final member. 

It is unclear when Reed's contract expires, but he has opened the door for a potential PGA Tour return by declaring in comments to Telegraph Sport that he would consider quitting LIV if he was offered the same terms as Koepka. 

Koepka, 36, quit LIV Golf in December and has already been reinstated to the PGA Tour.