Dustin Johnson has withdrawn from Final Qualifying for the Open Championship, ending his 18-year streak of consecutive appearances.

What happened?

The former world number one was initially listed in the field for the Dundonald Links qualifying event on Tuesday but his name has since disappeared from the draw.

Dustin Johnson's decision to skip Open qualifying may come as a surprise given his pedigree, but his record in the majors has declined since joining LIV Golf in 2022.

Why it matters for Dustin Johnson

He had qualified automatically in recent years thanks to exemptions, but those have now expired following his 2020 Masters victory.

The 4Aces GC captain recorded back-to-back top-five finishes at LIV Golf Korea and LIV Golf Andalucia heading into the summer, showing signs that his game is moving in the right direction.

What comes next?

Open Final Qualifying takes place on Tuesday, 30 June, across four venues, with five places at Royal Birkdale available from each 36-hole event.

Bob Harig, from the Daily Drive, first reported the withdrawal, revealing Johnson had been weighing up whether to make the trip before ultimately deciding against it, citing logistics as the main reason.

Johnson finished tied 33rd at The Masters, tied 44th at the PGA Championship, and tied 32nd at the U.S. Open this season.

LIV Golf is currently on an extended break and will not resume until its UK event at JCB Golf & Country Club later in July, leaving Johnson facing multiple transatlantic trips if he had successfully earned one of the five qualifying places available at Dundonald.

This year's Open Championship returns to Royal Birkdale for the first time since Jordan Spieth produced one of the most memorable final-round performances in modern Open history to lift the Claret Jug in 2017.

Dustin Johnson's agent said the decision to skip Open qualifying was driven largely by scheduling rather than form, with Harig revealing he had spoken with Johnson's agent at the U.S. Open.

The former world number one has managed just one top-20 finish in his last 15 major starts, a decline in form that has raised questions about his ability to compete at the highest level.

Dustin Johnson will miss The Open Championship for the first time since 2008, bringing an end to a remarkable run of consecutive appearances at golf's oldest major.