McGinley Says PGA Tour Policy ‘Risky’ As Johnson Controversy Takes Another Twist.

European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley hinted the PGA Tour really only has itself to blame as the Dustin Johnson controversy took another twist on Friday.

Just hours after a US website reported Johnson has been suspended by the Tour for six months after failing a third drugs test and the Tour responded saying that the 30-year old has not been suspended and is, according to the statement issued by Johnson’s management company on Thursday, taking a ‘leave of absence’ from the game.

Unfortunately, this latest twist continues to overshadow the $US 9m WGC – Bridgestone Invitational despite the newly-engaged Sergio Garcia posting the lowest round of his career to lead by three shots heading to the final two rounds.

Whatever, Johnson’s absence will mean missing next week’s PGA Championship, the lucrative FexEx Cup Play-Off Series and more importantly, earning a third USA Ryder Cup team cap.

Paul McGinley believes PGA Tour policy 'risky' as Dustin Johnson controversy continues.  (Photo - Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)

Paul McGinley believes PGA Tour policy ‘risky’ as Dustin Johnson controversy continues. (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)

McGinley now finds himself brought into the controversy as the rival Gleneagles European Team captain.

“The PGA Tour policy is to keep things in house and give very few details, but it’s a very risky policy because you’ve gone from controlling the situation to reacting to events as they happy, which is not where you want to be,” said the Irishman.

“It’s much better for everyone if there is clarity.

“If something has gone wrong and he has been misbehaving, let’s get it dealt with and move forward.”

And Johnson’s coach Butch Harmon told SKY Sports:  “One of the problems that the Tour has is that they do not impose sanctions, they don’t tell anybody about it.

“That’s not good either so the speculation and the rumous will continue to go on.  I think DJ  has made his statement and that’s pretty much all we’re going to hear from him

“As a friend of Dustin’s, whatever his problems are I hope he seeks the proper help and that he can get his head on straight and get back to playing great golf again.

“So until someone in authority tells us what the deal is there is going to be a lot of speculation.”



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