Johnson’s shot at taking earnings past $17m
DUSTIN Johnson will have the chance to end the maiden season of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf with more than $17m in the bank after reaching the final of the team championships.
The American tops the LIV Golf money rankings with $13.6m after winning the individual title and has a shot at another $4m if his 4Aces team claims the $16m prize at stake at the Blue Monster, when the tournament switches from matchplay format to strokeplay.
“It’s no different than any other tournament we play. Go out and try to shoot as low as we can,” said Johnson, who insisted that the huge numbers on offer had no impact on play.
“For us, it’s all about the competition. We want to win the first championship of LIV Golf, and it’s anybody’s ballgame.
“There’s no favourites in my eyes tomorrow. It’s what four guys can play the best on the teams obviously because all four scores count. So everybody on your team has to play well.”
Johnson will be relying on fellow Americans Talor Gooch, Patrick Reed and Pat Perez to be on form and deliver the trophy and prizemoney for his side.
Cameron Smith, the British Open champion, is paired with Johnson and his all-Australian team of Wade Ormsby, Marc Leishman and Matt Jones, playing as Punch GC, also fancies its chances.
“I think the golf course has got better and better as the week’s gone on,” Smith said.
“I think typically Aussies like to play firm and fast golf courses and it’s starting to get a little bit like that. We’ll see what happens overnight.”
Louis Oosthuizen leads the South Africans of Stinger GC and is paired with Brooks Koepka of Smash GC.