“All my buddies are still my buddies”: Dustin Johnson answers how dynamics have changed for PGA Tour and LIV golfers ahead of Masters

Dustin Johnson is playing the Masters this year. It will be the first time he's been at Augusta National as a non-PGA Tour member. That's been controversial this year, but the LIV Golf star doesn't feel any different.

There are 18 LIV golfers in the field, and it could provide some drama with the rift between PGA and LIV growing. For Johnson, he feels none of that pressure at all.

🗣️ "For me it's the same. All my buddies are still my buddies."

Dustin Johnson responds to questions about the dynamic at Augusta with PGA Tour and LIV Golf players going head to head for the first time. 👀 https://t.co/EgKGTi5L8F

Johnson told reporters:

"I've played a long time with all these guys, so if I'm playing how I should, then I'll be right there at the end... For me, it's the same. All my buddies are still my buddies, we play and we still golf, doesn't matter where you play at."

Despite more questions, he doubled down:

No, [nothing's different]. I still play golf for a living, so. I'm here at the Masters and I'm enjoying this week. This week's all about Augusta. It has nothing to do with where you play at, but guys that are here, they play all around the world. Not everybody plays on just one spot... I enjoy seeing them, it's nice to see a lot of the guys cause I haven't seen them that much, so it should be a great week and I'm looking forward to it."

A reporter then asked how he felt about being frequently named as the LIV player, the PGA Tour stars missed the most. He responded:

"Yeah, I mean that's always nice. Like I said, a lot of the guys, I'm good friends with. I've played a lot of golf with them and enjoy being around them, so it's nice this week to see them and get to play a few practice rounds with some of my buddies and yeah, it's going to be a great week."

For Dustin Johnson, it's all good ahead of the Masters in 2023. The public aura around the game may feel like there's a burning rage between the two sides, but members involved don't seem to agree with that idea.

Can Dustin Johnson win the Masters?

Winning the Masters would be a major feat for any LIV Golf member. Can Dustin Johnson pull it off? The oddsmakers believe he certainly has a shot, but they're betting on Cameron Smith as the LIV golfer with the best odds per CBS Sports:

Scottie Scheffler +650
Rory McIlroy +750
Jon Rahm +800
Cameron Smith +1400
Jordan Spieth +1400
Justin Thomas +1500
Will Zalatoris +1600
Collin Morikawa +1600
Max Homa +1600
Xander Schauffele +2000
Patrick Cantlay +2000
Sam Burns +2500
Jason Day +2500
Tony Finau +2800
Sungjae Im +2800
Dustin Johnson +2800
Viktor Hovland +2800
Cameron Young +3000
Brooks Koepka +3000
Joohyung (Tom) Kim +3300
Hideki Matsuyama +3500
Matthew Fitzpatrick +3500
Joaquin Niemann +4000

Several LIV members have an outside shot at taking the trophy, something that excites Greg Norman at the thought.

The PGA Tour is full of stars ready to win the Masters, but so is LIV Golf. It should be an excellent competition with both tours putting their best foot forward.