


Justin Doeden has come clean.
The 28-year-old golfer, who was accused of changing his score on the final hole at the PGA Tour Canada’s Ottawa Open last week, withdrew as tournament officials investigated and then took to Twitter on Monday to fess up to his mistake.
“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,” Doeden wrote, according to GOLF.com,
The scandal was first reported by Ryan French of Monday Q Info who detailed how after the second round, Doeden’s playing partners were having lunch and noticed Doeden was listed at 3-under on the leaderboard.
Doeden’s playing partner signed his card with a 7 marked down on the 18th hole, putting Doeden at 1-under and on the wrong side of the cut by one stroke.
Doeden, a Minnesota native, changed the score from a double bogey to a par afterward to put him at 3-under and advancing to the weekend.
Doeden’s decision also changed the fate for 13 golfers who finished T61st and missing a cut — when a tie for 60th gets them to the weekend.
Tournament officials examined Doeden’s card after the two players allegedly notified them of the situation, and it was discovered that the originally-marked 7 had been erased and written over with a 5.
Doeden, who turned pro in 2018, has competed in 56 tournaments on PGA Tour Canada and PGA Tour Latinoamerica, as well as one event at both Korn Ferry and PGA Tours.
GOLF.com asked PGA Tour Canada whether Doeden will face a fine or suspension for his cheating admission and a representative provided the following statement:
“A violation of the Rules of Golf is handled in accordance with the PGA TOUR Canada Player Handbook and Tournament Regulations. Per TOUR policy, the matter — and any related disciplinary action — will be handled internally.”