2013 Sony Open: Dustin Johnson withdraws after 9 holes of 2nd round with the flu

Dustin Johnson won’t be posting a Hawaiian slam to start the 2013 season after last week’s winner withdrew midway through the second round of the Sony Open because of flu-like symptoms.

“I feel like I’m coming down with whatever my caddie’s got. Just not feeling well,” Johnson, who won the 54-hole Tournament of Champions on Tuesday, said after making it through just nine holes on Friday. “Stomach hurts, headache, tired.”

DJ may have caught the bug from Bubba Watson, who was battling the flu at Kapalua. Watson said he had no energy and was dehydrated for much of Tuesday’s final round on the Plantation Course.

Johnson was hoping to go back-to-back in the tour’s opening two contests on the Hawaiian islands. But the sprint to finish Monday’s 36 holes and Tuesday’s 18 at Kapalua may have taken its toll on Paulina Gretkzy’s main squeeze.

DJ started with an even-par 70 on Thursday and was 3-over on the front nine on Friday, which would have put him five shots over the cut line. Had he won this week, Johnson would have matched Ernie Els as the only players to go 2-0 in Hawaii to kick off their golf seasons. Els accomplished the feat in 2003.

With Johnson’s next start expected to be at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, the looky-loos will have to wait until later this month to continue their gawking at the non-golfing half of sports’ new “It” couple.