PGA Tour Under Fire Over Handling Of Dustin Johnson Controversy.

The PGA Tour is under fire to show transparency and reveal the reasoning for Dustin Johnson’s decision to step down from competition for an indefinite period ensuring the troubled American will miss the Ryder Cup.

The fallout from the controversy continued to overshadow the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio and also embracing new British Open champion, Rory McIlroy.

Moments after England’s Justin Rose set about trying to capture a third tour title in four events by going into the clubhouse lead in the $US 9m and one of golf’s leading websites – www.golf.com – reported Johnson had been suspended by the Tour for six months PGA Tour in recently failing a third drugs test.

The website indicated also Johnson has failed three drug tests: one for marijuana in 2009 and two for cocaine, in 2012 and 2014 while he was previously suspended for the 2012 failed test, but that suspension was never made public.

In happier tiems - double Augusta winning Bernhard Langer with Dustin Johnson.

Dustin Johnson in happier times – sharing a beer with double Augusta winning Bernhard Langer during the BMW International Open in Munich.  (Photo – www.golffile.ie)

The NFL (National Football League) is still reeling from news made public under their constitution that Balitmore Ravens running back Ray Rice has been suspended for two games after allegedly knocking his fiancée unconscious at an Atlantic City Casino last February.

However the PGA Tour is the only leading sports body in the US that will not announce suspension or disciplinary actions against players for similar ‘bringing the game into disrepute’ actions or for the use of non-performance-enhancing drugs.

Johnson’s absence will mean missing out on next week’s PGA Championship, the lucrative FedEx Cup Play-Off series plus the Ryder Cup but then also how will event organizers of the November 6th starting WGC – HSBC Champions event explain Johnson’s absence from the defence of his Shanghai title?

McIlroy spoke albeit briefly ahead of his second round in Akron saying:  “It’s disappointing Dustin won’t be at Gleneagles as his length off the tee is one of the strengths of the American team.

“But all I can say is that we all wish him getting back to golf sooner rather than later.”

Rose, who shot a second round 67 to move to eight under par, agreed also the rival USA team will miss Johnson’s fire power over the Jack Nicklaus designed Gleneagles course.

“Dustin will be certainly missed on one side competing at Gleneagles but then he’s played in two Ryder Cups and I know at Medinah he was very dominant,” said Rose.

“He’s a great four-ball player given the distance he’s hitting it and he’s played well in the Major Championships.

“Dustin also has that ice in his veins mentality, so sure he will be missed plus he’s got that firepower that seems to be a trait on US Teams.

“Like everyone I was surprised to hear the news and that was a big statement he made, and it didn’t leave much to the imagination but then I wish him well.”

Fellow American Zach Johnson, and eighth on Tom Watson’s team table, took news of Johnson’s Gleneagles omission very hard declaring ‘it stinks’ his namesake will not be travelling to Gleneagles.

“It’s extremely unfortunate and I feel for him.  I feel also for his family.  I feel for his team, those that are associated with him because they’ve done a lot of good work this year,” said the 2007 Masters champion.

“Granted, I get called Dustin every other hole out here for some reason, and it’s not because of my drives either.  But I feel for him.  I mean, I want him on the Ryder Cup team.  But that’s selfish side coming out of me.

“It just stinks. It really, really stinks.”

Tiger Woods, who is desperately seeking to qualify automatically expressed his shock at Johnson’s withdrawal.

“It comes as a shock and you always want guys with his kind of power to play on any team.

“I’ve been his partner in the Presidents Cup in Australia, and the fire power that he has, it’s pretty cool to be around.  It’s not too often you see the guy carry the ball 320 without even trying.

“And then when he steps on it, he can hit it even further.  When he gets it going, it’s awfully impressive.”

Current European and PGA Tour No. 1 Henrik Stenson, and one of the longest hitters on the European Team said that while it’s ‘sad’ new he wishes the troubled American finds a ‘happy solution’.

Stenson said:  “It’s sad news to learn Dustin won’t be competing at Gleneagles but then he’s going through some tough times and sometimes we tend to forget we’re human and we have a life outside what we do on the golf course and so on.

“As for the Ryder Cup, it’s a great event and it’s going to be a shame he won’t be there but then there will still be 12 good players on their team.

“But then I don’t know what the issues are he is facing and all I can do it wish him a happy solution.”



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