Big-hitting American Dustin Johnson has shocked the golf world by announcing he is to take an immediate leave of absence from the game.

It means sitting out next week’s PGA Championship and will include the lucrative FedEx Cup Play-off series and more importantly the 2014 Ryder Cup.

David Winkle, President of Hambric Sports and who looks after the business affairs of Johnson. issued a statement on the 30-year old’s behalf saying:

Dustin Johnson – taking a mystery ‘indefinite leave of absence’. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)

“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 well-being and emotional foundation, I am confident that I will be better equipped to fulfill my potential and become a consistent champion.

“I respectfully ask my fans, well-wishers and the media for privacy as I embark upon this mission of self-improvement’.

The PGA Tour quickly responded issued a one sentence response wishing Johnson well but then the statement really has done Johnson little favour.

Speculation and rumour has been ripe this week in Akron, Ohio Johnson has been handed a mandatory three-month PGA Tour ban but then the Tour will and has never before made public any such ban ala the Vijay Singh scandal.

If this is true, then Johnson will not only suffer individually and financially but the news is a huge blow to USA hopes of regaining the Ryder Cup this year at Gleneagles.

The double Ryder Cup star, who finished 12th in last fortnight’s Open Championship, is a certainty to qualify for Tom Watson’s team as he’s currently ranked fifth overall on the Stars and Stripes points table.

There is no question that Johnson’s name will continue to remain on the points table but effectively the now Number 10 ranked Patrick Reed comes into team reckoning to be among the top-nine who will qualify for Watson’s team should Johnson be ruled out of travelling to Gleneagles.

Johnson is no stranger to controversy having been arrested for DUI in 2009 while there was doubt over his absence from the 2012 Masters.

In 2007 the South Carolina born golfer was arrested for purchasing bullets later used in a  gangland killing.

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 including missing the Masters.

If Johnson is out for three months, as many observers now believe, then he will be due to return a week prior to his defence of the October 6th commencing WGC – Champions event in Shanghai.

However it would not surprise if Johnson now takes off the remainder of the year.