While declining to get into specifics about conversations he had with the Saudi-backed start-up league or any of his sponsors, Johnson acknowledged on Wednesday that it was "something that you had to have a little bit of interest in."

Johnson, 37, was tied to rumours of a handful of marquee players who might be lured to the SGL being overseen by Greg Norman.

Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau announced on February 20 that they were sticking with the PGA Tour, while Phil Mickelson has stepped away from golf indefinitely after a slew of inflammatory remarks about the Tour in connection with the SGL.

"Talking with my family and my friends and my team, I think we made the best decision for me," Johnson said before The Players Championship.

Johnson said he "had a few conversations" with his sponsors about the SGL but declined to specify further, nor did he say whether he had any talks with Augusta National about his future Masters participation should he make the switch.

Johnson also said discussions with the SGL did not distract from his play on the course.

"Talking with my family and my friends and my team, I think we made the best decision for me." - Dustin Johnson. 

The former No.1 player has slipped to ninth in world rankings and hasn't won on the PGA Tour since the 2020 Masters in November of that year.

While he won the Saudi International early in 2021, Johnson's best finish on the PGA Tour since his Masters triumph was a tie for sixth at last year's BMW Championship.

Johnson attributed his slump more to testing "100 drivers probably" last year, which impacted his focus on other parts of his game.

He will begin his 13th Players Championship on Thursday.

Johnson said he is a big fan of TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, despite having only one top-10 result. He finished T48 last year.

"Honestly, I don't know because I like the golf course and I feel like it sets up well for me," Johnson said when asked if he can put a finger on why he hasn't had more success at The Players.

"I would say if anything that's held me back, it's probably just putting around here."