Johnson withdraws because of flu

Dustin Johnson withdrew Friday after nine holes at the Sony Open because of the flu.

Johnson was coming off a four-shot win last week in the Tournament of Champions at Kapalua, which started Monday and raced to a 54-hole finish a day later because of high wind.

He opened with a 70 at Waialae and was 3 over on the front nine — at least four shots away from making the cut — when he informed tournament officials that he was too ill to continue.

Johnson was spotted around Maui last week with his purported new girlfriend, Twitter sensation Paulina Gretzky, daughter of hockey legend Wayne Gretzky. Johnson had a chance this week to join Ernie Els as the only players to sweep the two Hawaii tournaments at the start of the year. Els won both in 2003.