With the Masters coming up this week and media storm that has been the LPGA v. Paulina Gretzky, will this effect Dustin Johnson at all? Johnson is a sleeper to win the Masters and there are sure to be more cameras than usual on the No. 11 ranked golfer in the world.

Lets recap the week that Dustin Johnson has had. First his fiancee, Gretzky, does a racy photo shoot for Golf Digest and soon after the LPGA speaks out about the magazine's cover. The LPGA commissioner Mike Whan spoke out against Golf Digest’s choice of Gretzky over the ladies of the tour itself.

Paulina Gretzky's Controversial Golf Digest Cover

"Inbee Park wins three straight major championships in 2013. Stacy Lewis, in 2012, becomes the first American to win Rolex Player of the Year since 1994. Lexi Thompson and Lydia Ko set historical benchmarks while blossoming as the Tour's youngest ever champions. And evidently, not one has been 'cover worthy' for Golf Digest. Growing the game means a need for more role models and in these exciting times for women's golf, the LPGA is overflowing with them.”

Then Johnson withdrew from the weekend’s Houston Open due to “back stiffness” after shooting an 8-over 80 in the first round. Coincidentally the issue featuring his fiancee was real eased the same day. With all the negatives surrounding Johnson, can he be considered a contender for the Masters?

I don’t know if you can call Johnson a sleeper as he is No. 11 in the world, but with all the negative hype surrounding him this past week, he could sneak up and steal some holes. Johnson is the latest golfer on the tour to withdraw with a mysterious injury out of the blue, but think of it as a coincidence and misfortune as opposed to Johnson wanting to avid the backlash of Gretzky’s cover of his miserable start to the tournament. Johnson has a fighters chance in the superstar-less Masters and can give the media something positive to talk about for at least one weekend.

What do you think of Johnson’s chances after his negative week? Tell us @SportsWN