Sky Sports analyst Iona Stephen found herself in an embarrassing moment when she mistakenly referred to Dustin Johnson as Justin Dohnson in a live television interview. At the time, Johnson was on the brink of securing the top spot in the Official World Golf Rankings after winning the Saudi International tournament at the Al Murooj Golf Course.
This tournament marked a significant milestone as the first European Tour event held in Saudi Arabia and one of the initial events jointly sanctioned by the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour. Stephen, feeling the pressure to mention the tournament’s name correctly during her interview with Johnson, got flustered, resulting in the mix-up with Johnson’s name.
During a conversation with Peter Finch on his Rough Cut Golf Podcast, Stephen recounted the incident, expressing her discomfort at the blunder. Despite the mishap, Stephen has been a well-liked member of the Sky Sports Golf team since 2020, with a background in professional golf.
Johnson, a prominent figure in the golfing world, participated in the Saudi International event, finishing T23 with a score of six under-par. He has achieved success both on the PGA Tour and the European Tour, later transitioning to the LIV Golf breakaway league in 2022.
As the captain of the 4Aces team in LIV, Johnson competes alongside teammates Thomas Pieters, Harold Varner III, and Patrick Reed. His move to LIV has been fruitful, with significant earnings and a notable victory as the 2022 Individual Champion.
Several other top golfers, including Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Sergio Garcia, and Phil Mickelson, have also joined the LIV league, attracted by the lucrative prizes offered. The season continues with upcoming events such as LIV Golf Chicago, LIV Golf Indianapolis, and the LIV Golf Team Championship, promising intense competition and substantial rewards for the participants.