Confession: I Cheated at a PGA Tour Event

Last week, during a PGA Tour Canada developmental event, suspicions arose about a player’s score. According to Golf Digest and Golf.com, professional golfer Justin Doeden has confessed to altering his scorecard after it was signed at the Commissionaires Ottawa Open. Ryan French at Monday Q Info first brought attention to the issue, having spoken to fellow golfers who played with Doeden and noticed discrepancies between his final score and what they witnessed on the green. Tournament officials investigated and discovered that Doeden had erased a score of 7 on one of the holes and replaced it with a 5. Doeden’s playing partner revealed that after he signed the scorecard, Doeden requested it back to “double-check” some things.

Officials confronted Doeden, who argued that 5 was the correct score. However, other witnesses who observed him play that hole confirmed that 7 was the accurate score. Ultimately, Doeden withdrew from the tournament and later took to Twitter to admit his wrongdoing. The 28-year-old professional golfer from Minnesota, who turned pro in 2018, expressed deep remorse, stating, “I am here to confess the biggest mistake of my life to date. I cheated in golf. This is not reflective of who I am. I have disappointed my sponsors, competitors, family, and myself. I seek your forgiveness. John 1:9.” As a result of his withdrawal, the cut line was adjusted, allowing 13 players who initially believed they had missed the cut to continue playing throughout the weekend. It remains uncertain what disciplinary measures will be implemented. (Read more PGA stories.)