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Pro golfer Justin Doeden admitted to cheating at a recent PGA Tour Canada event in Ottawa. The 28-year-old was wrapped up in controversy following his second round at the Commissionaires Ottawa Open.
Doeden tried to pull a fast one on his card, adjusting the score on his final hole of the day. That score change would’ve helped him make the cut.
Instead, an investigation erupted which not only led to his withdrawal but to his facing public scrutiny, too.
The incident came on Friday with Doeden double-bogeying on the 18th green. Rather than write that 7 onto the scorecard, though, he recorded a par (5).
His fellow golfers immediately questioned the scoring, challenging officials to take a look. He’d later pull out of the competition with that investigation ongoing, ending his weekend in Canada.
As if that withdrawal wasn’t admission enough, Justin Doeden owned up to cheating which he called the “biggest mistake” of his life.
I am here to confess of the biggest mistake I have made in my life to date. I cheated in golf. This is not who I am. I let my sponsors down. I let my competitors down. I let my family down. I let myself down. I pray for your forgiveness. John 1:9 @acaseofthegolf1
— Justin Doeden (@jdoeden11) July 24, 2023
Fans were split on how to react to the apology on social media. Some commended Doeden for coming clean.
Big props for owning it, that’s not easy. Hope you come out better for it on the other side of this whole thing.
Cheers.— Martin McSports (@MartinMcSports) July 24, 2023
Others, however, weren’t so easy to forgive and forget.
It’s not a confession if you get caught first…
— Rudy Gonzalez Jr (@Rudy_NavyVet) July 24, 2023
Some even questioned if it was Doeden’s first time cheating in an event.
Can’t help but wonder how many other times you’ve done this before and not been caught? 🤔
— Joseph Clarke (@ViperClarke) July 24, 2023
It will be interesting to see what punishment comes out of the scandal, and how that affects Justin Doeden’s career moving forward.