‘I cheated’: After scoring controversy, pro confesses to wrongdoing

It was a stunning allegation.

On the PGA Tour Canada’s Ottawa Open final week, 28-year-old Justin Doeden was accused of changing his score on the ultimate gap from a double-bogey 7 to a par 5 after the cardboard already had been signed by his taking part in companion.

The incident was first reported by Ryan French of Monday Q Infowho spoke to gamers in Doeden’s group. In response to their account, they seen Doeden’s posted 36-hole complete of three below whereas having lunch after the spherical. The wrong rating positioned Doeden one shot contained in the minimize line, tied for sixtieth, which meant 13 different gamers, who would tie for 61st, would miss the weekend — and event prize cash.

In response to French’s reporting, the gamers notified the event officers, who, upon analyzing Doeden’s scorecard, found that the originally-marked 7 on No. 18 had been erased and changed with a 5. Doeden’s unique rating would have put him exterior the cutline and weekend cash. Doeden withdrew from the event through the officers’ investigation, and he didn’t reply to a request for remark from French.

However on Monday, Doeden took to Twitter to admit to his actions, if not in nice element:

“I’m right here to admit of the most important mistake I’ve made in my life thus far,” he wrote. “I cheated in golf. This isn’t who I’m. I let my sponsors down. I let my opponents down. I let my household down. I let myself down. I pray on your forgiveness. John 1:9.” Doeden additionally tagged French’s Twitter deal with.

In response to the New Worldwide Model translation of the Bible, 1 John 1:9 reads: “If we confess our sins, he’s devoted and simply and can forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Doeden lists Titleist and FootJoy as sponsors on his Twitter bio. He turned professional in 2018 and has performed 56 tournaments on PGA Tour Canada and PGA Tour Latinoamerica, in addition to one occasion every on the Korn Ferry and PGA Excursions. Earlier this month, he was eradicated from a three-way playoff for his first PGA Tour Latinoamerica title on the Bupa Tour Championship and completed T2.

It doesn’t seem that Doeden was ever disqualified from the Ottawa Open, as his standing nonetheless reads “W/D” on the PGA Tour Canada web site, with a 36-hole rating of three below.

When requested by GOLF.com whether or not Doeden will face a tremendous or suspension for his dishonest admission, a PGA Tour Canada consultant replied with the next assertion:

“A violation of the Guidelines of Golf is dealt with in accordance with the PGA TOUR Canada Participant Handbook and Event Laws. Per TOUR coverage, the matter — and any associated disciplinary motion — might be dealt with internally.”

Golf.com Editor

As a four-year member of Columbia’s inaugural class of feminine varsity golfers, Jessica can out-birdie everybody on the masthead. She will be able to out-hustle them within the workplace, too, the place she’s primarily accountable for producing each print and on-line options, and overseeing main particular initiatives, corresponding to GOLF’s inaugural Fashion Is­sue, which debuted in February 2018. Her origi­nal interview collection, “A Spherical With,” debuted in November of 2015, and appeared in each within the journal and in video type on GOLF.com.