By Matt Smith
Sometimes you just realise you are in the wrong job. Even more so if you spend a lot of your working life on or near a golf course.

Two-time major winner Dustin Johnson woke up $18 million richer on Monday morning after his 9-under, 16th-place finish and a fortuitous/cruel twist of fate confirmed him as the inaugural LIV Golf Individual Championship, well, champ.

Despite already having banked $12.75 million and change after six events in the lucrative new series that offers total purses of $25 million for each event, DJ has pocketed an individual extra $18 million. His performance at Stonehill in Thailand was enough to take him out of reach of his competitors in the LIV Golf individual points standings.

With a consistent season so far that has seen two third-place finishes and a brilliant win in Boston over six events, Johnson has accumulated 121 points (40 points are awarded for a win and decline respectively as you go down the leaderboard).

His nearest challenger was South African Branden Grace, who was leading in Bangkok and had a chance of overtaking the American at the top of the standings, before a muscle injury forced him to withdraw in Bangkok and forgo his potential points total. He earned zero points, zero dollars and is a major doubt for this week’s event in Jeddah.

All of which meant Johnson’s total was insurmountable ahead of the finale in Saudi Arabia.

“Locking up the individual competition is big. It’s an honour to be LIV’s first individual season champion,” said Johnson. “I’d like to thank Greg Norman and LIV for their confidence in me, my brother and caddie Austin, my wife Paulina, my Four Aces teammates Pat (Perez), Patrick (Reed) and Talor (Gooch), as well as LIV’s growing legion of fans around the world.

While Johnson can boost his season earnings further in Jeddah, the team format allows his bank manager to rub his hands with glee ahead of the money-spinning $50 million Team Championship in Miami at the end of the month.

Johnson’s 4 Aces also lead the way in the team standings and are guaranteed No. 1 seeding and a Day 1 bye.

“Our team is in a really good position with two events to go and I’m looking forward to further contributing to LIV Golf’s exciting story and continued growth.”

LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman added: “The first chapter of LIV Golf’s history could not be written without Dustin Johnson’s name. By any measure, DJ is among the elite players in the world.

“From the start, he’s been a LIV Golf cornerstone. He has more than lived up to his billing and he deserves immense credit for clinching LIV’s first individual season title. We look forward to a celebration befitting such a champion in Miami at the end of October.”

You may also like:
Golf Digest Middle East presents Oktoberfest 2020
LIV Golf Jeddah — all you need to know
LIV Golf pays and plays it forward
Watch: Highlights from the LIV Golf Bangkok finale
Chacarra holds nerve to claim LIV Golf Bangkok
Watch: Highlights from LIV Golf Day 2
Watch: Woe for Wu at Spanish Open
Chicarra closer to first pro title as Grace withdraws
Bryson hits back at OWGR decision
LIV Golf Day 1 takeaways
Field announced for LIV Golf Jeddah
LIV Golfers set for bumper Bangkok pay day
WATCH: Sungjae’s shot of the season contender
Eugenio finds form at LIV Golf Bangkok
OWGR says ‘no’ to LIV Golf — for now
LIV Golf looks at ranking points through MENA Tour
Noren gets the luckiest of bounces at St Andrews
Charley and MacKenzie set a new mark
LET set for an Aramco showdown
Dubai’s McKee all set for Aramco Team Series bow
Cam Smith ready for return to action in Asia
Rory comes up short at St Andrews yet again
Viya Golfs adds to the club
UAE golfer heads to the Masters