Johnson 'seeks help' away from the game

Post by Senior Staff Writer Adam Smith

Last night Dustin Johnson took a leave of absence from all golf effective immediately after admitting he needs ‘professional help’.

The 30-year-old American who just missed out on a top-ten finish at The Open two weeks ago released a statement through the PGA Tour and will miss next week’s US PGA Championship at Valhalla and the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles at the end of September.

https://twitter.com/GolfChannel/status/494938419093848066/photo/1

Johnson’s statement read: “I am taking a leave of absence from professional golf effective immediately. I will use this time to seek professional help for personal challenges I have faced.

“By committing the time and resources necessary to improve my mental health, physical wellbeing and emotional foundation, I am confident that I will be better equipped to fulfil my potential and become a consistent champion. I respectfully ask for privacy as I embark upon this mission of self-improvement”.

 The statement left critics asking more questions which was touched upon by Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley on Sky after they read the statement on air: “If something has gone wrong and he’s been misbehaving, let’s get it dealt with and move forward”.

Johnson has had chances to win majors in the past but blew the opportunities on the final day. Back in the 2010 US Open at Pebble Beach he went into the final day three shots clear but had a horrendous start after he followed a triple bogey on the second hole with a double bogey on the third and finished five shots back from eventual winner Greame McDowell.

Three months later in the US PGA Championship at Whistling Straits he birdied 16 and 17 to take a one-shot lead but bogeyed the final hole to apparently tie for the lead. Further reviews revealed he had grounded his club in a bunker on his final approach in and was penalised two-strokes which dropped him down into a tie for fifth.

Away from the game Johnson has been known to be in trouble with the law. He was arrested when he was 17 for buying bullets that were later used in a gangland shooting and in 2009 he was charged with driving under the influence.

In 2012, he also took a leave of three months from the game which was rumoured to be a drugs ban from the PGA Tour which was quickly rebuked by his agent.

His career seemed to be heading in the right direction under the tutor ledge of Butch Harmon and after winning Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Hawaii at the start of the year he got engaged to Paulina Gretzky the daughter of famous ice hockey player Wayne.

More and more questions will be asked over the coming weeks but it’s not in the PGA Tour’s nature to release any information if any player is facing a ban or has been banned from the game.

I applaud Johnson for his courage in coming out with his statement and it’s clear that he does need professional help. I hope the Tour is backing him and that we see him back on the fairways shortly. He always seems a likeable character something which the game can’t afford to lose.