This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/jul/31/dustin-johnson-break-golf-professional-help-personal-challenges

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Dustin Johnson to take break from golf and seek professional help Dustin Johnson to take break from golf and seek professional help
(about 2 hours later)
The US golfer Dustin Johnson is taking a break to seek help for “personal challenges” and will miss the US PGA Championship, the FedEx Cup play-offs and the Ryder Cup.The US golfer Dustin Johnson is taking a break to seek help for “personal challenges” and will miss the US PGA Championship, the FedEx Cup play-offs and the Ryder Cup.
In a statement on Thursday from Hambric Sports Management, the 30-year-old Johnson said his leave of absence was effective immediately. It did not indicate how long he would be out, though the agent David Winkle told the PGA of America Johnson would not be at the US PGA Championship next week or the Ryder Cup in September.In a statement on Thursday from Hambric Sports Management, the 30-year-old Johnson said his leave of absence was effective immediately. It did not indicate how long he would be out, though the agent David Winkle told the PGA of America Johnson would not be at the US PGA Championship next week or the Ryder Cup in September.
“I will use this time to seek professional help for personal challenges I have faced,” Johnson said. “By committing the time and resources necessary to improve my mental health, physical well-being and emotional foundation, I am confident that I will be better equipped to fulfil my potential and become a consistent champion.”“I will use this time to seek professional help for personal challenges I have faced,” Johnson said. “By committing the time and resources necessary to improve my mental health, physical well-being and emotional foundation, I am confident that I will be better equipped to fulfil my potential and become a consistent champion.”
He asked for privacy “as I embark upon this mission of self-improvement”.He asked for privacy “as I embark upon this mission of self-improvement”.
Johnson, who tied for fourth in the US Open and tied for 12th in the Open, was No5 in the Ryder Cup standings and virtually certain to earn one of nine automatic US spots when qualifying ends next week at the US PGA Championship. As long as he stays in the top nine, he will be replaced by the next player in the standings.Johnson, who tied for fourth in the US Open and tied for 12th in the Open, was No5 in the Ryder Cup standings and virtually certain to earn one of nine automatic US spots when qualifying ends next week at the US PGA Championship. As long as he stays in the top nine, he will be replaced by the next player in the standings.
“We will certainly miss Dustin Johnson at Gleneagles, and we wish him the best,” the US captain, Tom Watson, said. “As one of the longest hitters in the game with an undefeated record of 3-0 at Medinah in 2012, he has clearly been an asset for the United States team. That said, the United States is a team with an abundance of talent.”“We will certainly miss Dustin Johnson at Gleneagles, and we wish him the best,” the US captain, Tom Watson, said. “As one of the longest hitters in the game with an undefeated record of 3-0 at Medinah in 2012, he has clearly been an asset for the United States team. That said, the United States is a team with an abundance of talent.”
The European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley, commentating on the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational for Sky Sports, felt Johnson’s statement would simply lead to a “lot of speculation and rumours”.
“Things will be said that are not true,” McGinley added. “It’s much better for everyone if there is clarity. If something has gone wrong and he has been misbehaving, let’s put it out on the table and get it dealt with and move forward.”
In May 2012 Winkle insisted his client had not been serving a drugs suspension from the PGA Tour when Johnson spent three months out of the game.
In a Q&A conducted by Golf Channel.com in December last year, Johnson himself said he had never been punished or reprimanded for any kind of drugs violation.