Sky Sports analyst Iona Stephen found herself in an embarrassing situation during a live TV interview when she mistakenly called Dustin Johnson by the wrong name. Johnson, who was about to secure the top spot in the Official World Golf Rankings, had just triumphed at the inaugural Saudi International tournament held at the Al Murooj Golf Course.
The Saudi International marked a significant milestone as the first European Tour event in Saudi Arabia and one of the initial co-sanctioned events between the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour. Stephen, feeling pressured to mention the tournament’s name correctly in her interview with Johnson, ended up mixing up his name instead. Reflecting on the incident during a conversation with Peter Finch on his Rough Cut Golf Podcast, Stephen admitted, “I called the world No. 1 Dustin Johnson, Justin Dohnson, live in a winner’s interview.”
Despite the mishap, Stephen, a key member of the Sky Sports Golf team since 2020, has maintained her popularity, having previously competed professionally in golf. Notably, she covered The Open Championship at Royal Portrush, where Scottie Scheffler emerged victorious.
Johnson, who finished T23 in the event mentioned, has been actively involved in the LIV Golf breakaway league since 2022, captaining the 4Aces team alongside Thomas Pieters, Harold Varner III, and Patrick Reed. His success with LIV includes winning an event each year and being the league’s second-highest earner, boasting significant prize money and a recent £13 million payout for becoming the 2022 Individual Champion.
While Johnson has excelled in LIV, golfer Talor Gooch currently leads in earnings within the league. Notably, Johnson is among the prominent golfers who switched from the PGA Tour to LIV after the league’s establishment in 2021, joining the likes of Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Sergio Garcia, and Phil Mickelson in competing for substantial cash rewards.
The LIV Golf calendar is nearing its end this season, with upcoming events scheduled at Bolingbrook Golf Club, Chatham Hills, and Michigan in August, offering thrilling competition and lucrative prizes.