'I am here to confess': Pro golfer admits to cheating to make cut at PGA event

Professional golfer Justin Doeden admitted that he cheated at a PGA Tour developmental event in Ottawa, Canada, after a fellow player alerted tournament officials.

Doeden withdrew from the tournament after he completed the second round, when questions arose regarding his score on the 18th hole, according to Golf Digest.

A player who competed with Doeden at the Eagle Creek Golf Club noticed on the leaderboard that Doeden had a score of three under par; however, what he witnessed was different. According to a report made on Monday Q Info, the golfer said he watched Doeden take seven strokes on a par-5 hole, so he was perplexed when he saw Doeden's score was two strokes less.

When the player approached tournament officials, Doeden's card was pulled and investigated. Officials reportedly noticed that the number seven written for the 18th hole had been erased and replaced with a five.

The difference in score meant that Doeden would make the cut and move on to the next round of the tournament. Furthermore, his newfound score meant the cutoff score would be shifted, which would have allowed an additional 13 players, who originally thought they were going home, to advance as well.

According to reports, Doeden actually handed the scorecard to another player, who then signed the card with the seven, before Doeden then allegedly asked for the card back.

"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 on Twitter.

PGA Tour Canada officials asked the Minnesota-born player what score he made on the hole, to which he reportedly answered a five. Officials then asked the walking scorer and players who were in the same group, whom all said he scored a seven.

“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," a PGA Tour Canada spokesperson told Golf Digest.

Doeden is a five-year pro who spent two seasons at the University of Minnesota and was fourth in school history for season and career scoring average, according to the Daily Mail.

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