Ryder Cup history maker Dustin Johnson said he wants a chance to repeat his 2021 heroics despite uncertainty surrounding whether United States’ LIV Golf stars will be eligible for the biennial clash with Europe.
On the same day Greg Norman’s Saudi-funded concept finished its first Australian foray in Adelaide, two-time major winner Johnson and Masters runner-up Brooks Koepka declared themselves available for selection.
The United States’ Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson said last week no decision had been made on whether stars such as Johnson, Koepka and Phil Mickelson would be eligible for the showdown near Rome in September.
It has widely been expected LIV defectors wouldn’t be chosen, in particular Johnson, who said he resigned his PGA Tour membership last year.
But the 38-year-old, who became only the fifth player in Ryder Cup history to win all of his five matches when the United States won in Wisconsin in 2021, said he was desperate for a return bout with Europe’s Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy.
“I would love to, absolutely,” Johnson told the Herald after his 4 Aces won the team division at LIV Golf Adelaide. “It’s something I’ve always enjoyed playing and in the last Ryder Cup I played pretty well. It’s one of my favourite events to play in.
Dustin Johnson sprays champagne after his 4 Aces team won LIV Golf Adelaide.Credit: Getty
“I’d love to [do it again]. If I play well for the rest of the year, hopefully I’ll get a consideration.”
Koepka’s runner-up finish behind Rahm at Augusta National showed he remains one of the best players in the world despite chronic knee problems, and he would join a formidable line-up already including Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth.
“I have no idea [if we’ll be eligible] and it’s not up to me so I can’t make that decision, but if they choose us, we’ll be ready to go,” Koepka said.
Johnson (-13) and Koepka (-12) finished well behind compatriot Talor Gooch (-19) in the individual standings at LIV Golf Adelaide, with Gooch pocketing almost $6 million for his first win in the league.
A member of Bubba Watson’s Range Goats, Gooch had a 10-shot lead heading into the final round but watched it be trimmed to just two at one stage as he struggled to a final-day one-over 73.
His caddie, Mal Baker, draped himself in the Australian flag on the victory podium having been Gooch’s regular bagman for several years.
“I actually played fine out there [on Sunday],” Gooch said. “The golf gods I think said, ‘we don’t want this first win to be easy on you’.
“We’ve been looking forward to this tournament for so long. And I couldn’t have picked a more fun, more meaningful tournament to win on LIV than here in Australia in front of the greatest crowds we’ve had, the greatest environment we’ve had.”
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