Dustin Johnson pulls out of Open qualifying as 18-year Championship streak ends

Dustin Johnson will miss The Open Championship for the first time since 2008 after withdrawing from Final Qualifying ahead of this year's tournament at Royal Birkdale.

The two-time major champion had initially been listed in the field for the Dundonald Links qualifying event on Tuesday, but his name has since disappeared from the draw.

The Daily Drive's Bob Harig first reported the withdrawal, revealing Johnson had been weighing up whether to make the trip before ultimately deciding against it.

"Dustin Johnson was said to be on the fence about Final Qualifying for The Open and has apparently decided not to go," Harig posted on X.

Johnson's absence brings to an end a remarkable run of consecutive appearances at golf's oldest major. 

He had qualified automatically in recent years thanks to exemptions, but those have now expired following his 2020 Masters victory.

While the decision may come as a surprise given Johnson's pedigree, his record in the majors has declined since joining LIV Golf in 2022.

The former world number one has managed just one top-20 finish in his last 15 major starts. 

This season he finished tied 33rd at The Masters, tied 44th at the PGA Championship and tied 32nd at the U.S. Open.

There have, however, been signs that Johnson's game is moving in the right direction. 

The 4Aces GC captain recorded back-to-back top-five finishes at LIV Golf Korea and LIV Golf Andalucia heading into the summer.

Harig later revealed he had spoken with Johnson's agent, who said the decision to skip Open qualifying was driven largely by scheduling rather than form.

"I saw his agent at the U.S. Open and it was simply the logistics," Harig wrote. 

"You go there for 36 holes. Then what? Go home for two weeks to return. LIV not playing over there doesn't help."

LIV Golf is currently on an extended break and will not resume until its UK event at JCB Golf & Country Club later in July, leaving Johnson facing multiple transatlantic trips if he had successfully earned one of the five qualifying places available at Dundonald.

Open Final Qualifying takes place on Tuesday 30 June across four venues — Dundonald Links, West Lancashire, Royal Cinque Ports and Burnham & Berrow — with five places at Royal Birkdale available from each 36-hole event.

This year's Open Championship returns to Royal Birkdale for the first time since Jordan Spieth produced one of the most memorable final-round performances in modern Open history to lift the Claret Jug in 2017.