Big-hitting Dustin Johnson has ruled out returning to Royal County to contest the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open later this month.

Johnson, a member of the 2007 USA winning Walker Cup team, indicated he has committed to contesting the Colonial being staged in the same week at Forth Worth, Texas.

“I was thinking really hard of heading back to Royal County Down but given I missed a lot of the season  at the start of the year, I need to think about my schedule and that means playing the Colonial,” he said after a final Players round 72 for a three over par total.

Dustin Johnson now rules out contesting the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open. (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)