Dustin Johnson delivers new blow to Saudi-backed breakaway tour

The latest blow to the Saudi Arabia-backed breakaway golf tour has been delivered by Dustin Johnson, who has pledged commitment to the sport’s existing ecosystem.

Johnson joins Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Tiger Woods, Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth and Collin Morikawa by stating support for the PGA Tour. Against such high-profile resistance, it appears highly doubtful that the Saudi scheme, which is fronted by Greg Norman, can proceed in meaningful fashion.

Saudi’s plans for golf have been hugely controversial given the kingdom’s human-rights record and reported involvement in the 2018 murder of a journalist, Jamal Khashoggi. Players had been tempted by huge financial incentives to join a Super Golf League.

Johnson’s position is interesting because he was known to be a key target for the Saudis. In a statement, tellingly released by the PGA Tour, the world No 6 said: “Over the past several months, there has been a great deal of speculation about an alternative tour, much of which seems to have included me and my future in professional golf. I feel it is now time to put such speculation to rest.

“I am fully committed to the PGA Tour. I am grateful for the opportunity to play on the best tour in the world and for all it has provided me and my family. While there will always be areas where our Tour can improve and evolve, I am thankful for our leadership and the many sponsors who make the PGA Tour golf’s premier tour.”

Attention now turns firmly towards Phil Mickelson. The current US PGA champion recently lambasted the “obnoxious greed” of the PGA Tour. A subsequently released interview with Mickelson implied he had been actively working with the Saudis in a bid to earn leverage against the PGA Tour.

“We know they