Where is Dustin Johnson? USA golf star blames LIV Golf for 2023 Ryder Cup team snub

Dustin Johnson was the star of the USA's massive win over Europe at the 2021 Ryder Cup, becoming the first American in 42 years to finish with a 5-0 record in a single edition of the competition.

But the 39-year-old will not be joining their attempt to win in Europe for the first time since 1993 when the action begins in Italy on Friday.

Johnson believes he has played well enough to be part of the team and admits he wants to be part of one of the most prestigious events in the sport.

So what's the story on his absence from the 2023 Ryder Cup? Here's why Johnson isn't playing and what he's said about it.

MORE: Ryder Cup free live streams in the US

Dustin Johnson Ryder Cup 2023: Why isn't golf star playing?

Johnson has only played at the majors on the PGA Tour since making a lucrative move to the LIV Golf tour in 2022.

As well as a reported $125 million for joining the Saudi-backed tour, Johnson is also said to have won tens of millions in prize money, including becoming individual tour champion.

The 2020 Masters winner's performances at the majors have been underwhelming by his standards, finishing well back at the Masters and PGA Championship and missing the cut at the British Open. His best showing was a tie for 10th at the US Open.

"To be honest, I haven't really played that well this year," Johnson told the Palm Beach Post after the US Ryder Cup team was named, adding that he believed he would have been selected if he had been on the PGA Tour.

"If I would have played a little better at the majors, I definitely would have had a really good chance to be on the team. But I just struggled a little bit in the majors this year, which happens.

"Have I played well enough to be on the team? Yeah. I didn't have the best year. Was it good enough to make the team? I think so. If I would have been playing on (the PGA Tour), yeah, I would have made the team.

"Do I think I can help the US team? Absolutely."

Dustin Johnson Ryder Cup record

Johnson helped his team last time out to their largest margin of victory (19-9) since 1967.

Five previous players had gone 5-0 at the Ryder Cup: Gardner Dickinson (USA, 1967), Arnold Palmer (USA, 1967), Larry Nelson (USA, 1979), Ian Poulter (Europe, 2012) and Francesco Molinari (Europe, 2018).

Johnson's excellent overall record is 12-9-0.

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Ryder Cup 2023 purse

Even though the Ryder Cup is one of the sport's most well-known competitions, golfers who play in the tournament don't receive any prize money. 

That's right, $0, £0, €0, and that's even if their team wins. 

That doesn't tell the whole story though, as players do receive compensation in other ways. 

According to reports, the PGA gifts each member of Team America with $200,000 that they donate to the charity or charities of their choosing. Half of that amount goes to set organizations, including the Boys & Girls Club of America, the Drive, Chip, & Putt Championship, and the PGA Junior League. 

As for Team Europe, it's become a tradition for their captain to give each player a gift for their participation. For example, back in 2018 when Europe won the tournament in France, captain Thomas Bjorn bought each of his team a personalized Rolex.

It remains to be seen if 2023 captain Luke Donald will carry on the tradition this time around.

Ryder Cup winners

In the tournament's history, Team USA has captured 27 wins, while Team Europe only has 14. However, in the last 20 years, Team USA has only won three times (2008, 2016, 2021).