PGA Tour: Dustin Johnson denies allegations of drug abuse

Dustin Johnson has admitted problems with alcohol were behind his decision to take a six-month break from golf amid allegations he has been battling a drug addiction.

The 30-year-old has not featured on the PGA Tour since missing the cut at the Canadian Open last July, after which he announced he was taking a voluntary leave of absence to address "personal issues".

But speculation soon emerged that he had been fined and suspended by the PGA Tour after testing positive for the use of cocaine - allegations he has frequently denied over the last few seasons.

Johnson has insisted that “drinking to excess” was the main contributing factor to his break from golf, and he is now focused on resuming his professional golf career at next month's Farmers Insurance Open.

"I did not have a problem," Johnson said when asked about the cocaine allegations. "It's just something I'm not going to get into. I have issues but that's not the issue."

The world No 22 insisted drugs "didn't really have a role in my life” before adding: “Like everyone I'm tested regularly by the Tour and as far as that's concerned... I haven't failed anything.

"I would drink and drink to excess. The change I made is I just don't do that any more.”

Johnson announced on Tuesday night the birth of his first child, a son, with fiancee Paulina Gretsky, the daughter of ice hockey legend Wayne Gretsky. 

The eight-time PGA Tour winner is expected to return at Torrey Pines early next month, and believes he has found new ways to deal with off-course stress.

"My way of getting rid of it was drinking or partying," he told SI.com. "I definitely have given up hard liquor 'cause that was the thing that I went to... it's been a big change."

"That might work for that day or the next week but eventually everything keeps piling up."