Johnson and Gretzky turn parents

Report by Anand Datla

January 21, 2015: Dustin Johnson and Paulina Gretzky are the delighted parents of a new born son. The couple announced the arrival of their child through a statement issued to the media. Johnson has been out of action for the past six months, after deciding to voluntarily take time out to deal with his personal issues. While it has been speculated that Johnson has a cocaine problem, he has strongly denied these allegations by suggesting that his problem was more to do with alcohol than drugs.

Paulina is the daughter of ice hockey legend Wayne Gretzky. Johnson issued a statement through his management company. “Paulina and I are happy to announce the arrival of our baby boy, who was born in Los Angeles on Monday morning,” Johnson said in the release. “Both Paulina and the baby are healthy, resting comfortably and in great spirits.  We sincerely appreciate the outpouring of love and support we have received and plan to release further details in the coming days!”

Johnson is an eight-time winner on the PGA Tour, before he took leave of absence last year to “seek professional help for personal challenges,” as described in his own words. In his first interview since taking a break from the Tour, Johnson told the Sports Illustrated that he did not have a problem with cocaine.

“I did not have a problem,” Johnson asserted, when he was probed over the subject of cocaine. “It’s just something I’m not going to get into. I have issues. But that’s not the issue.” The American golfer also informed the interviewer that he did not check in rehab during his time away, but instead surrounded himself with a group of people that included a life coach to help him refocus his energies on golf and find ways to realise the full potential of his talents.

“My way of getting rid of it was drinking or partying,” said Johnson about his way of dealing with stress. Acknowledging that wasn’t the best way, Johnson added “yeah, that might work for that day or the next week, but eventually everything keeps piling up.” It is believed that the golfer has managed to stay away from Vodka, supposedly his main problem, for months since the start of his hiatus in August. In fact, he is said to have laid a $1000 bet with his prospective father-in-law that he would get through January without taking a drink.  “I don’t miss waking up with a hangover, and I didn’t drink very often,” he said. “It was just when I did it was a little too much.”

Given his immense skill with the golf club, the Tour will only hope that Johnson can enjoy the arrival of his new born child, address his waywardness and return to play the best golf he can.