Dustin Johnson was injured in a bedroom incident with his wife Paulina Gretzky on the way to the US PGA

Dustin Johnson has been preparing for this year’s PGA Championship spending quality time with his wife Paulina Gretzky.

Johnson, 39, is pictured in a photo Gretzky posted to Instagram earlier this week that shows the couple on a boat. The post appears almost to the day since the LIV golfer unexpectedly mentioned his wife during a pre-tournament press conference at Oak Hill Country Club.

During the preview of the US PGA, the former world number one was confronted with questions about his slow start to the season on the Breakaway Tour. The American had finished in the top ten just twice in the first five events before winning LIV Golf Tulsa just days before arriving in New York.

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When asked bluntly by a journalist why it took him so long to play well, Johnson explained: “I mean, I was ready at the start of the season. When I came in, I went out to play against Saudi International and I tweaked my right back before that.

“So I didn’t hit any balls for a couple of weeks until right before my game against Mexico. It just took me a while to get back and get the patterns right and just get my body moving.”

“I developed some bad habits and it’s just golf. Things happen. To swing well, feel good, gain confidence. That’s always helpful when you’re getting into a major.” A follow-up question asked how he managed to injure his back.

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“I just pulled a muscle in my lower back,” Johnson replied, only to be shoved at the exact moment it happened. “Swinging a bat or picking up a child?” the reporter replied.

Johnson agreed with the latter explanation to some extent, having answered the former with a firm “no” before laughing to himself. As the grin spread across his face, Johnson tilted his head from side to side before agreeing.

“Yes, picking up a child,” he said, before clarifying, “just a bigger child.” The laughter soon spread throughout the press room as those in attendance began to flesh out the reference. Johnson swayed awkwardly from one foot to the other as he stood at the podium, looking around the room after realizing what he had just said.