Dustin Johnson suffers Masters humiliation as LIV Golf star comes crashing down to earth
Dustin Johnson failed to replicate his incredible performance in the 2020 Masters at Augusta National this year – with the LIV golfer missing the cut at 13 over par.
Dustin Johnson’s poor play at the 2024 Masters was a stark contrast to his record-breaking performance at Augusta in 2020.
The 39-year-old finished the week 13 over par en route to missing the cut and getting sent home earlier than expected in the tournament. It wasn’t long ago that Johnson had a historical couple days at Augusta, smashing the record for lowest score across 72 holes at the Masters with 268 (-20). Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth previously held the best mark at the Masters, each posting 270 in 1997 and 2015 respectively.
After edging out Cameron Smith and Sungjae Im’s 273 scores – the eighth-lowest score at the Masters – Johnson was awarded the green jacket for the first time in his career. Entering this year’s Masters, the two-time major winner hoped to replicate his 2020 success at the distinguished tournament.
“Clearly, I was in good form, and during that particular week, I performed well for all four days,” he informed journalists recently. “I sense a continuation of that momentum in my game.
While it may be difficult to reach the level of play I had during that week, I believe I am currently playing well enough to potentially have another exceptional week.”
After his impressive performance at the Masters in 2020, Johnson made the decision to leave the PGA Tour and join LIV Golf. The new league, supported by Saudi Arabia, has a less hectic schedule than the PGA Tour, allowing him to focus more on his training.
“I maintain a consistent training regimen throughout the year. During the off-season, I may increase the intensity a bit,” he explained. “It’s enjoyable to be at home and have my trainer travel with me wherever I go. We train on the go, just like we do at home, most of the time.
It’s beneficial to have the time to focus on certain areas of the body that require extra attention.”
“I didn’t play near as well as I’d like to,” he said. “But this year, obviously getting off to a little bit better start [will help]. I feel like the game’s in really good form. To be honest, I am putting in a little more work. I just wasn’t pleased with my results. Putting in the effort, I think, is the biggest thing. I just wasn’t happy with the way I played. So I’m working a little bit harder this year.”
Regrettably, Johnson did not see the payoff for the additional effort and preparation he put in before the Masters. He ended Thursday and Friday with scores of 78 and 79, and only managed to score one birdie in 36 holes.
After joining LIV Golf, Johnson’s Official World Golf Ranking plummeted to 336. Despite this low ranking, many experts still consider him one of the best players in the sport.
