Dustin Johnson WDs from Saudi International with back injury ahead of LIV Golf season opener

Dustin Johnson withdrew from PIF Saudi International on Thursday due to a back injury, the Asian Tour has announced.

Although the details of his injury are not known, Johnson reportedly worked on his back during a practice round at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club in Saudi Arabia earlier this week. He didn’t play in the pro-am on Wednesday either.

“Two-time champion Dustin Johnson unfortunately had to withdraw before the first round of the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers after polishing his back,” the Asian Tour said in a brief statement, via Golfweek.

Johnson, 38, has battled back injuries in the past. He had to withdraw from the Masters in 2017 with a back injury as well.

Johnson has won 24 times on the PGA Tour, including at the Masters and the US Open. He was one of the biggest names to leave the Tour for LIV Golf last year, a move that has proven incredibly sound financially. Johnson took home more than $35 million in the league’s controversial inaugural season and won both the individual title and the team title.

Johnson has also won the Saudi International twice in the last five years when the event was part of the DP World Tour. He is expected to play at LIV Golf’s season opener in Mexico later this month.

While many players who left the PGA Tour did so with much controversy and criticism, Jordan Spieth still praised Johnson at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on Wednesday.

“He’s a Hall of Fame player, someone that the guys and the people and the celebrities here really enjoyed being there,” Spieth said. “He is an abnormal athlete who plays golf. He absolutely loved this event… If you’re talking in general and not just this event, you know, I think there are a number of guys that are missing. But I think DJ being maybe the first to go there and someone who was never really controversial here and more, he just worked like crazy, it paid off. [He] made his breakthrough at the US Open, then went on to win the Masters.

“Just a Hall of Fame player who didn’t create controversy with other players and played on several Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup teams. I represented them very well. He was one of my friends. He’s a friend of mine. I just haven’t seen him.

Dustin Johnson has won the Saudi International twice in the past five years when the tournament was part of the DP World Tour. (Michele Eve Sandberg/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)