“I'll be wearing some blank stuff” - Dustin Johnson explains why he terminated his contract with Adidas
Dustin Johnson recently disclosed the reason for ending his 15-year-old partnership with Adidas. As per Johnson, it was due to his LIV Golf deal.
Earlier, it was announced that Johnson and Adidas were parting ways just before the second season of the LIV Golf League, which is set to kick off this week. Johnson stated that both parties decided to mutually terminate the contract.
“Obviously I've been with Adidas, I was with them for 15 years," said Johnson ahead of LIV Golf League. "We had a great relationship. It's still really good. We mutually agreed on parting ways. It just wasn't working how it was, just with my new - obviously playing for LIV and the way things kind of go. It was better for both of us to part ways.”
The new season of the Saudi-backed league will begin with an event in Mexico at Mayakoba's El Camaleon Golf Club. 13 more events will take place over the year around the world where 12 teams will be competing.
Johnson said that there was a mutual separation between Adidas and himself despite having a great partnership over the years. There hasn't been any animosity over the years.
The two-time Major champion added that it was not in the long-term interest of LIV Golf's franchise model to have an association with a clothing manufacturer. The idea is to attract individual sponsors for team apparel. Johnson also suggested that his team 4Aces may already have found a sponsor.
“For me being the captain of the team, obviously being able to go out and find a clothing sponsor is more beneficial than waiting another year. Which we probably will have something - hopefully my clothes get out of customs and I'll have some stuff to wear by this weekend, but if not, I'll be wearing some blank stuff," Johnson added.
There is some good news for the Saudi-backed league as it has signed its first major sponsorship deal with global shipping logistics company EasyPost. LIV Golf already has a TV deal with the Nexstar-owned CW Network.
Dustin Johnson and other LIV Golf professionals eligible for PGA Championship
The PGA Tour of America has announced that there will be no sanctions on the LIV defectors, contrary to the speculations.
The PGA of America released its eligibility criteria for the upcoming PGA Championship on Wednesday.
Players were mandated to have a membership with the PGA of America to participate in the Championship and membership was only granted to members of the PGA Tour. Hence, if any player were banned from the PGA Tour like the LIV defectors, they would forfeit their membership with the PGA of America. This was repeated by Waugh during the Championship last year, and he reaffirmed his statement by saying that his comments "still hold true."
However, in recent developments, all former PGA Championship winners will receive an invite. Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, and Martin Kaymer are former Championship winners who have now defected to LIV.
Apart from this, major winners of the last five years and The Players Championship winners of the past three years will also be eligible to play. This announcement is some relief for LIV-associated professionals that they can compete in all four Majors.