Dustin Johnson's withdrawal opens the door for the rest of the field !

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Dustin Johnson has been forced to withdraw from the Masters due to the injury he sustained when he slipped in his stocking feet on the hardwood stairs in the house he and the family are renting, and fell down the 3 steps awkwardly injuring his back and elbow.

After a night of rest, and physiotherapy he came to the course 2 hours prior to his 2.15pm tee time and tried hitting some soft shots, got more therapy and returned to take full swings and was obviously not able to, heck his caddy had to tee the balls up for him. After a few putts and a chat with Butch Harmon he decided he had to withdraw and this is what he had to say.

"It sucks. I'm playing the best golf of my career. This is one of my favourite tournaments of the year. Then a freak accident happened when I got back from the course. It sucks. It sucks really bad."

You will know he came into this week with 3 straight wins under his belt against all of the world's best.  His life has turned around since he and Pauline Gretzky got engaged and started a family. The influence of his father-in-law, Wayne Gretzky in my opinion has been completely under stated. He finally won his first major at the U.S. Open last summer and was voted PGA Tour player of the year as he won the PGA Tour money title and also won the Vardon Trophy.

If this had happened on Monday he would be playing today. That's the rub. he'll probably feel fine by the weekend !

However accidents are called just that because that's what they are. Unexpected. Have you never slipped and fell on some ice, and suddenly you are flat on your back, and you couldn't do a thing about it !

Remember a couple of years ago, Rory McIlroy tore ligaments in his ankle in a pick up game of soccer with his mates and couldn't defend his title at the Open at St. Andrews, and he was the world's top player at the time.

So it's a big disappointment for DJ, and for all of us, however although they won't say it, it opens the door for the rest of the field who he has already beaten 3 times this year..


Bryan Angus