Dustin Johnson is planning a 'major shake-up' to his 4 Aces team despite being crowned LIV Golf champions in Miami last weekend. Johnson, along with Pat Perez, Patrick Reed and Talor Gooch secured the £14 million jackpot on Sunday to become LIV's first ever team champions.
Just days after their mega-money victory though, captain Johnson is said to be already looking to change things up on his playing roster. According to ESPN, Gooch is said to be the man making way, with fellow American Peter Uihlein reportedly coming in.
Uihlein enjoyed an impressive first year on the Saudi-backed series, finishing third in the individual season money money list having earned a whopping £11.2 million.
The 33-year-old star finished second in two of the last three individual events of the campaign, and finished fourth in the series opener at Centurion Club in June. With Uihlein arriving the departing Gooch is set to team up with two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson, and join Niblicks GC.
For Johnson the victory in Miami capped off a quite remarkable maiden season the Saudi-backed series, having claimed both the individual and team titles to earn a whopping £30.7 million across eight events. The American picked up his first ever LIV Golf win in Boston in September, and finished outside of the top 10 just once in seven individual events.
Johnson has no doubt taken advantage of the controversial Saudi switch with his £30.7 million in winnings also going on top of his lucrative signing on fee, which was reported by the Telegraph to be 'around £100 million'. Despite his mega-money earnings, the 2020 Masters champion was still left with some disappointment.
Prior to last week's season finale at Trump Doral, Johnson was quizzed on his 2022 season winnings, and admitted the eye-watering number was still 'under' his end of season goal. The American star said: "Yeah, I’m actually a little under where I thought I would be.
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"Ive done okay. I didn’t quite reach my goal. But yeah, I’m happy with it so far.” Since LIV's inception earlier this year, its playing quota have been heavily criticised by many for chasing the riches of the breakaway circuit, rather than chasing the traditions and titles available on the PGA Tour.
Johnson though was keen to outline that despite the mega-money offer, the key incentive for him is still winning a championship first and foremost. He commented: "For us it is all about the competition. We want to win the first championship of LIV Golf."
