Dustin Johnson Withdraws from Tournament Due to COVID-19
The PGA announced on Tuesday that the highest-ranked golfer in the world is withdrawing from this week’s CJ Cup PGA Tournament. Dustin Johnson started feeling some symptoms of the COVID-19 virus and was tested, as all players are according to PGA Tour protocols. Johnson’s test came back positive.
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The CJ Cup event is normally part of the PGA Tour schedule known as the Asian Swing include the CJ Cup at Nine Bridges in South Korea, the Zozo Championship in Japan, and the WGC-HSBC Champions in China.
The CJ Cup and the Zozo Championship have been moved to Las Vegas and Sherman Oaks California, respectively, Due to COVID-19. The WGC-HBC Champions tournament has been canceled for the 2021 season – which the PGA Tour is already playing.
Johnson is currently ranked as the No. 1 player in the world by the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) followed by Jon Rahm and Justin Thomas. Johnson said he hopes to return soon as the reschedule Masters tournament is coming up in November.
“Obviously, I am very disappointed,” Johnson said in the PGA statement. “I was really looking forward to competing this week, but will do everything I can to return as quickly as possible. I have already had a few calls with the Tour’s medical team and appreciate all the support and guidance they have given me.”
Johnson finished out the 2020 season by winning the FedEx Cup and carding a T2 finish at the PGA Championship. He was T6 at the U.S. Open. That run of finishes sealed his OWGR No.1 ranking heading into the CJ Cup.
According to PGA officials, the withdrawal by Johnson opens up the door for a player waiting on the CJ Cup field alternative list. The golfer filling the spot in the select limited field event with no cut will be J.T. Poston who is currently ranked No. 61 by the OWGR. Poston finished third at the Sanderson Farms Championship a few weeks ago but missed the cut at the U.S. Open.
CJ Cup Info
- Where: Las Vegas, Nevada
- Course: Shadow Creek Golf Course
- Par: 72
- Length: 7,527 (PGA)
- When: October 15-18, 2020
- Purse: $9.5 million
- TV Coverage: Golf Channel
CJ Cup Odds
(top-ten +2500 and under before Johnson’s withdrawing)
- Dustin Johnson +1000
- Jon Rahm +1000
- Justin Thomas +1100
- Rory McIlroy +1100
- Xander Schauffele +1400
- Matthew Wolff +2000
- Tyrrell Hatton +2000
- Patrick Cantlay +2000
- Brooks Koepka +2500
- Collin Morikawa +2500
- Tony Finau +2500
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