By Torleif Sorenson on 8/1/14

Dustin Johnson is taking time off from the PGA Tour, effective immediately. Through his management company, he released the following statement:

"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."

Neither Johnson, nor his agent, Davis Winkle of Hambric Sports Management, would comment further.

Speculation is running wild that Johnson might have failed a drug test; rumors have widely circulated that Johnson served a two-month drug suspension from the PGA Tour — and that he underwent in-patient rehab. Many observers on the web who have tried to "read between the lines" have said that this smells like substance abuse.

Not surprisingly, the PGA Tour does not disclose these sorts of things. All the Tour had to say was this: "We have nothing to add to Dustin's statement, but we wish him well and look forward to his return to the PGA TOUR in the future."

This afternoon, the PGA of America confirmed that Johnson has also pulled out of the two highest-profile events in men's golf remaining this year:

Dustin Johnson will not be participating in next week’s @PGAChampionship nor taking part in the @rydercup at Gleneagles

— PGA of America (@pgaofamerica) July 31, 2014

Johnson was 5th in the Ryder Cup standings this week. If Johnson remains among the top 9 after the PGA Championship at Valhalla, then his spot would go to the 10th-ranked player. Johnson won the WGC-HSBC Champions and has six more top-ten finishes this season. But by all appearances, Johnson's season is done.

While the announcement on Thursday was stunning, we cannot say it was necessarily surprising. His well-documented "life in the fast lane" style with fiancée Paulina Gretzky, a Los Angeles socialite well-known for her carousing and alcohol use, certainly did not look good in any way.

We certainly wish Johnson a complete and successful recovery from the personal challenges he is facing. Certainly he has taken a large step in the right direction.


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Image via Twitter, Dustin Johnson