Zach Johnson withdraws from South Korea tourney

Zach Johnson, and 2012 U.S. Ryder Cup teammate Dustin Johnson, have withdrawn from this week's Ballantine's Championship in Icheon, South Korea.

Several weeks ago, Cedar Rapids native Zach Johnson committed to the PGA European Tour event. Less than three weeks ago, he told The Gazette “My management and the people associated with the tournament are obviously keeping a very watchful eye on what is happening. I'm committed to it right now. I'm willing and wanting to go. Only in certain instances would I not go. I'm not going to put myself in a bad position if things seem sketchy.”

But a statement from the tournament's organizers said the following:

Ballantine's is disappointed to announce that Dustin Johnson and Zach Johnson have informed us they will no longer be attending the Ballantine's Championship. They have reached this decision following perceived unrest on the Korean Peninsula and can no longer assure their commitment to this year's event.

The tourney's field still includes former majors champions Louis Oosthuizen, Y.E. Yang and Paul Lawrie.

A South Korean news agency reported Sunday that North Korea had moved short-range missile launchers to its east coast, apparently indicating it was pushing ahead with preparations for a test launch. The tournament site is a half-hour from the North Korea border.