Dustin Johnson has withdrawn from the Hero World Challenge casting doubts on whether or not he’ll be ready for the Presidents Cup.
Johnson was pictured playing a friendly round in a Pro-Member at the Floridian with Rickie Fowler but has not been seen in a professional field since the PGA Tour’s season-ending Tour Championship, after which he underwent arthroscopic knee surgery.
Despite not playing in the 18-man event in Albany, he still believes that he will join Fowler on captain Tiger Woods’ team in Melbourne.
DJ tweeted that he had officially withdrawn and felt another full week of practice and physical attention would see him best prepared for the biennial contest.
He said: “After a lot of careful thought and consultation, I have decided that it is in my best interest if I withdraw from next week’s Hero World Challenge. While my recovery from knee surgery is complete, I feel another week of physical therapy and practice will best prepare me for the Presidents Cup. I have informed Captain Woods of my decision, which he fully supports and understands, and cannot wait to tee it up with him and my teammates next week in Australia.”
2/2…practice will best prepare me for the Presidents Cup. I have informed Captain Woods of my decision, which he fully supports and understands, and cannot wait to tee it up with him and my teammates next week in Australia.
— Dustin Johnson (@DJohnsonPGA) November 30, 2019
Johnson was the leading American scorer at the 2017 staging at Liberty National, where he secured 4.5 points.
Should he be forced to withdraw for the team, he would be a big miss and would join World No. 1 Brooks Koepka on the sidelines.
There is already set to be record number of rookies at this year’s Presidents Cup after Jason Day withdrew from the International side through injury, with skipper Ernie Els selecting Byeong Hun An in his place.
As for the Bahamas, Chez Reavie is the beneficiary of Johnson’s withdrawal and will make his Hero World Challenge debut.
