“Playing less, making more money” – Dustin Johnson opens up about LIV Golf move in Netflix’s Full Swing

Dustin Johnson moved to LIV Golf and became the series’ MVP. The golfer won the inaugural season of the Saudi-backed series and bagged more than $35 million in prize money.

Months after his move, Netflix’s Full Swing documentary series has given fans an insight into the golfer’s controversial move. Opening up about the defection in the series, the 38-year-old said that the decision to join LIV was “pretty simple” as he would be “playing less, making more money” in the new league.

The former World No. 1 became frank while explaining his reasoning for the LIV Golf move in the series. Speaking on Episode 5: American Dreams of the Netflix series, DJ said:

"For me it was playing less, making more money. Pretty simple.”

He further added:

"Someone offers anyone a job, doing the same thing they're already doing but less time at the office and they're gonna pay them more. Pretty sure you're gonna take it. And something's wrong with you if you didn't."

Peter Uihlein joins the 2022 Champions @4AcesGC_ for the 2023 #LIVGolf season!

4 Aces GC will be Dustin Johnson, Pat Perez, Peter Uihlein, and Patrick Reed. https://t.co/RJ4dqd2syx

It is pertinent to note that Dustin Johnson was a hot property on the PGA Tour when he first announced his decision to move to LIV Golf. The golfer reportedly signed a $125 million contact to join the tumultuous series. Following the move, the two-time Major winner became one of the series’ spokespersons. The ace golfer went on to slam the PGA tour on multiple occasions last year.

Dustin Johnson falls out of the top 50 in Official World Golf Rankings

Dustin Johnson has been in freefall in the Official World Golf Rankings since his move. The golfer slipped out of the top 50 and currently sits at 51st. DJ was in the top 10 of the rankings when he first agreed to join LIV.

As of todays OWGR, Dustin Johnson is no longer a top 50 player in the world and Bryson is no longer a top 100 player.

If Tiger Woods were to win this week, he would jump close to the top 50 in the world despite not having played a regular PGA Tour event since 2020.

Wild.

Here’s how the Official World Golf Rankings currently looks without Dustin Johnson:

1. Scottie Scheffler
2. Rory McIlroy
3. Jon Rahm
4. Cameron Smith
5. Patrick Cantlay
6. Xander Schauffele
7. Justin Thomas
8. Will Zalatoris
9. Collin Morikawa
10. Matt Fitzpatrick
11. Victor Hovland
12. Max Homa
13. Tony Finau
14. Sam Burns
15. Tom Kim
16. Jordan Spieth
17. Cameron Young
18. Sungjae Im
19. Billy Horschel
20. Hideki Matsuyama
21. Keegan Bradley
22. Shane Lowry
23. Joaquin Niemann
24. Tyrrell Hatton
25. Brian Harman
26. Tommy Fleetwood
27. Abraham Ancer
28. Seamus Power
29. Ryan Fox
30. Sepp Straka
31. Tom Hoge
32. Russell Henley
33. Sahith Theegala
34. Thomas Pieters
35. Adam Scott
36. Justin Rose
37. Corey Conners
38. Kevin Kisner
39. Kyoung Hoon Lee
40. Aaron Wise
41. Alex Horen
42. Si Woo Kim
43. Talor Gooch
44. Kurt Kutayama
45. Lucas Herbert
46. Guillermo Mito Pereira
47. Min Woo Lee
48. Chris Kirk
49. Harold Varner II
50. JT Poston

However, Dustin Johnson seems fine with the fall as he made over $35 million in prize money during the inaugural LIV season. DJ picked up the $18 million individual prize as well as the Team Championship as part of the 4 Aces quartet. He will now return for the 14-tournament $405 million LIV Golf League set to tee off in Mexico on February 24.

It’s safe to say that DJ will be eyeing an even bigger paycheck this year.