Round 2: Humana Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation
January 20 2012
4:16 pm
Johnson withdraws due to back
LA QUINTA, Calif. – Dustin Johnson, who had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in November, has withdrawn from the Humana Challenge.
Johnson said his knee was fine but that pain in his lower back prompted the early exit.
“My knee is ok. I am not worried about it,” Johnson said. “My lower back is really stiff and hurting, which I think is from the way I am walking or the fact that I have not walked a lot since the surgery. Yesterday was the first time I walked a full 18 holes. I do intend to play next week in San Diego,"
Although he had been hitting full shots for several weeks, Johnson had not walked an entire round prior to the start of the tournament. Johnson had originally targeted next week’s Farmers Insurance Open for his return to competition but was feeling so well he wanted to play this week.
Johnson shot an even-par 72 on the Palmer Course in the first round but was 4 over through nine at La Quinta when he withdrew.
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another one bites the dust
I’m sure his back really started hurting when he noticed he was 18 shots behind at the turn. Good for him. No need to push it when there was nothing to gain by playing another 27 holes.
Yes, true. It’s always better to stop when feeling pain than risk further injury. He was smart to do so.
He’ll be back to fight another day.
The back injury is totally bogus. The PGA needs to start levying hefty fines for withdrawing before a cut is made. Yeah, I know it is tough to prove what is legit and what is not but DJ had enough with his bad play and the 6+ hour rounds at this tourney.
I give him the benefit of the doubt. Even Rory McIlroy has had back issues.
Dustin Johnson looks like a fine prospect, a young man who might win a major or 2 but Rory Mcilroy is in a completely different league to this guy and anyone who thinks otherwise doesn’t know a whole lot about golf. Mcilroy will finish a prolific career with 50 professional wins around the world including 10 Major Championships, starting with #2 at The Masters in April. The course suits him down to the ground with his long hitting and right to left shot shape. He couldn’t handle the pressure last year as we all know, but he will be a year older this year, more mature and most importantly will know he has what it takes to win a major having claimed the US Open in fine style by 8 shots setting 12 records.
I watched Dustin Johnson playing in round 1 at the Palmer course when he was a couple under at the time his knee nor his back were hurting him. He wasn’t LIMPING when he was 2 under par either.
However, after DJ FOUR PUTTED from just 15 feet on the par 3 17th hole on day 1…after that is when I noticed DJ limping and of course nursing a sore back.
It’s amazing how these gents backs hurt after they have 4 putted a green and embarrassed themselves in front of the world. Hell, I’m a single figure handicap and play golf at weekends with the pals and I can’t recall 4 putting a green, this guy does it for a living.
It’s amazing how these gents backs hurt after they have 4 putted a green and embarra$$ed themselves in front of the world. Hell, I’m a single figure handicap and play golf at weekends with the pals and I can’t recall 4 putting a green, this guy does it for a living.
He needs to get away from that trainer of his, Randy Myers or whatever his name is and start training like an athlete. Swinging on Swiss balls is a circus show that isn’t worth the risk. I’m not surprised he’s hurt and if he doesn’t change trainers soon, the trend will continue. The body must be structurally balanced to perform optimally!!!
They are expecting snow in Beijing today
Hey Sean Smith, as “a single figure handicapper” you obviously are a better player than any of these PGA Tour players, so maybe you could get a job as an advisor or mentor or even coach to these inferior players given your obviously incredible golfing brain. It’s very sweet that you have a man-crush on Rory and you sing his praises at every opportunity via your prolific blogging on this site, but please stop inflicting your ill-informed opinions on everyone. You should never criticise someone who is better than yourself, and in this case that means the millions of golfers around the world that would whip your a#se on the golf course big time.
GHav, good point. Sean is certainly an expert, as can be seen by his comments.
And Sean’s certainly right about Rory too – Tiger’s heir apparent as the best golfer in the world.
johnson was going to start his season at torrey pines but decided to start earlier because he thought “it would be ok”.
“it” is his knee, the same knee that required surgery.
now this tournament is not all that big in the prestige department so why risk it?
so he plays a couple of days then pulls out.
dumb.
His back was hurting, he coudn’t continue, he withdrew. End of story.
What a stupid comment “you should never criticise anyone who is better than yourself”. If that were the case no one would write here. This is a forum to say what you think. The quality of your own game has nothing to do with your opinion. You can be a 30 handicap golfer and still make an intelligent comment here.
No wonder Sean Smith denigrates every other player – including Dustin Johnson.
Yea Sean is a masterpiece….one more week sean boy and we will see tiger beating on rory in dubai… my premonition is tiger and rory will be paired in the final round and RORY MCILROY will have a mental breakdown at the witness of awesomeness…. LOL….. his caddy better carry a first aid kit..
I had a feeling this was coming and I like DJ but it is too bad for others on the shuffle list that could have played in his spot and are 100% healthy. Hope DJ has a speedy recovery.
I think it is safe to say that Sean Smith has a severe case of man crush for Rory McIlroy. LOL!!
Sean…Lofty claims about your boy “RORS”…Where do you come up with your information… YOU ClOWN..
Keegan Bradley will dust Mcillroy this year and have a better overall career than “rors”!
Keegan Bradley should have a good year in 2012. The other Top Golfers will have to keep looking over their shoulder to make sure where he is during the upcoming seaon.
He should be good for at least Two wins
I saw Sean’s multiple blogs about something other than the article and quickly dismissed all of them as infomercial tripe.
October 6th, 2011 7:39 pm
@ Jo .. I wish I was an 8/9 handicapper. Putting is the strength of my game. Get me inside 10 feet and seems I make more than I miss. iron play is okay I guess but it’s the driving that lets me down. I don’t hit the ball that far and can be very wayward at times =( I play off about 12 and hoping to get to single figures I believe it’s possible just need to hit the ball straighter =(
I want Rory to give me an enema.
Funny how Sean berates DJ for 4-putting, and can’t believe guys who do this for a living could ever 4-putt. I know you love Rory Sean, but your boy 4-putted #12 last year at Augusta on his way to yet another 80 round when in contention. Guess you’re not really that big of a “rors” fan, or did you just have a convenient loss of memory?
Funny how Ryan Moore shoots a 61 and nary a word was said about it. like Rodney said “I just don’t get no respect”.
[...] knee is ok. I am not worried about it,” Johnson told PGATour.com after making it through nine holes Friday. “My lower back is really stiff and hurting, which [...]
Oh … I thought Johnson was just playing like sh*t. However, that’s what I meant about 2012 being a strange season for golf in another string. I suspect we’re going to see a lot less of the popular players and more of the lesser-known names taking the tournaments this year. I just wish the PGA would apply their boots to kicking creeps like Clinton off the course instead of licking his.
dob, do you actually think Tiger will win next week?
Sean Smith you’re hilarious. If you have never 4 putted, obviously you have never played at a higher level on a championship course. Try putting greens with slope, stimping at 12 or 13, then remember you cant pick the 4 footers up either. When you have done that a few times, then tell me how great you are……..