The Royal Bank of Canada, one of Johnson’s top sponsors, said it was “extremely disappointed” in the 2020 Master’s winner for joining the budding golf league tied to the Saudi Arabian government and former President Donald Trump.
Former top-ranked golfer Dustin Johnson will play in the first LIV Golf event next week, the budding PGA Tour competitor announced late Tuesday night, a major shock reversing Johnson’s previously expressed loyalty to the PGA Tour likely inspired by LIV Golf’s massive payouts backed by the Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. Johnson said in February he was “fully-committed to the PGA Tour,” joining a chorus of other top golfers pledging allegiance to the PGA Tour. Other notable names competing in LIV Golf’s first tournament are Sergio Garcia, Louis Oosthuizen, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood. Westwood was dropped by his long-time sponsor UPS last month over his stated desire to join LIV Golf.
