Gretzky supporting Johnson during ‘tough time’

Paulina Gretzky and Dustin Johnson (left) announced their engagement in August 2013. (Ben Margot/AP)

Wayne Gretzky is standing behind PGA star and future son-in-law Dustin Johnson as the golfer deals with personal issues.

Johnson, one of the top golfers in the world and fiancé to Gretzky’s daughter, Paulina, announced in July he was taking a leave of absence from the sport to solicit help for “personal challenges.” Shortly after that, it was reported Johnson had been handed a six-month suspension for testing positive for cocaine, however the PGA Tour denied the report and insisted it was a voluntary leave of absence.

Although the exact reasons for Johnson’s break have not been made public, Gretzky believes the time off is a positive thing for the golfer.

“Obviously life isn’t perfect and he went through a tough time and, as he said to me, ‘It’s going to make me a better person and a more responsible person, and through that it’s going to make me a better athlete and better golfer,’” Gretzky told Brady and Walker on Sportsnet 590 The Fan Wednesday.


LISTEN NOW: Wayne Gretzky discusses Dustin Johnson’s situation with Brady and Walker


“In life, unfortunately, sometimes we forget that even athletes are human and there’s bumps in the road, and most importantly he’s a wonderful person with a good heart and we care about him. He’s our future son-in-law and we love him dearly,” Gretzky added. “It’s been a tough time… When you go through tough times as a family that’s when you have to stick together the most.”

Johnson, despite not playing since the RBC Canadian Open, sits No. 16 in the world golf rankings and just received a $175,000 bonus for finishing the season 30th on the FedEx Cup point list.

Gretzky is currently in Toronto, where he attended several Toronto International Film Festival events, including the premiere for Red Army, a film about the Soviet hockey team. He also attended the premiere of The Sound and the Fury, in which his wife, Janet Jones-Gretzky, stars alongside James Franco, Seth Rogan and Danny McBride.


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