Mysterious moving ball incident clouds final day's play

It was delightful to wake up to the Monday morning news that American Dustin Johnson had won the 116th US Open (16-19 June).  Millions of golfers worldwide must have jumped for joy when ‘DJ’ holed out for birdie on the final hole at Oakmont.  After all, the 31-year old from South Carolina had had more than his fair share of near misses in Majors over the last few years.   Enough to make most golfers hang up their golf bags for good in frustration.  His victory at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania at the weekend was well-deserved and conclusive.  The long and lean “driving machine” eventually finished three shots clear of Shane Lowry, Jim Furyk and Scott Piercy on a distinctly weird and controversial Sunday.

 

It had been a very late night for many golf fans around the globe.  A rather uncomfortable five hours, as it happened, watching live television coverage on the sofa at home in Holland until two in the morning when the golf broadcast was abruptly ended for coverage of basketball!  Just as the leaders were playing the last two holes!  But that’s another story.

 

Burly Irishman Lowry as 54-hole leader

 

On Sunday morning all was looking set for an exciting final round with the burly, bearded Irishman Shane Lowry leading the tournament by four strokes on 7-under par.  In the chasing pack among others, the halfway leader, Dustin Johnson.  Play was underway with the crowds enjoying the sunshine on the beautifully laid-out Oakmont course.  The golf was hotting-up for a great finale.  Johnson had come boldly to the fore from four strokes behind to take the lead.  And then it happened.

 

 

Johnson was on the 12th hole when news came in that he may receive a “possible penalty” for “possibly causing” his ball to move a millimetre (or possibly two!) on the super-slick fifth green.  What had happened?  Apparently he was about to take-up his address position, after having made two practice strokes next to the ball, when the ball moved, ever so slightly.  He declared it to the referee and his playing partner, Lee Westwood.  A referee concluded at the time that the ball need not be replaced and that there was no penalty.  Westwood was in agreement that Johnson had not touched the ball.  But now, seven holes later, he was being warned of a “possible penalty” that awaited him in the clubhouse.

 

Bizarre ruling hangs as a dark cloud over Oakmont

 

Viewers at home were ‘treated’ to the close-up, slow-motion footage of the incident.  Television commentators chewed over the phenomenon for the next few hours.  Although zoomed-in television pictures confirmed the miniscule movement of the ball, it was not clear as to what had caused that movement.  On the 12th hole, Johnson was told that the USGA would study the film and talk through the incident with him at the end of play before making its final decision as to whether he would receive a penalty stroke or not.  Not exactly the ideal situation to find yourself in when you’re leading the US Open!  The bizarre ruling hovered as a dark storm cloud over the rest of the final round.

 

‘Twitter’ began to erupt with comments from around the world including some of Johnson’s fellow pros.  Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy made it quite clear that they were not happy with the way the USGA were handling the situation.  Shane Lowry’s manager, Chubby Chandler too.  Naturally, the ruling was not only going to have an effect on DJ, but also on the chasing pack.  Especially on the mental state of the 29-year old Irishman.  He had already shown himself to be a real contender in the last US Open (tied 9th) and had had a big victory in America later that year, the WGC Bridgestone Invitational.  He wasn’t going to give up easily.

 

 

It’s not quite clear, if, and when, Lowry (pictured above) learned of DJ’s “possible penalty” out on the course. Indeed, that was also part of the discussion – whether he and the other players should be informed during the tournament.  Apparently, there is nothing in the rules to say that the organisers are obliged to inform players of a “possible pending penalty”.   A while later, there was even speculation that it could end up a two-stroke penalty or possibly no penalty at all! Confusion reigned.

 

Johnson’s Major destiny

 

Rules are rules.  And this is golf.  But this situation was completely crazy – a kerfuffle over nothing.  Simply mind-blowing!   Johnson didn’t appear to do anything wrong.  Nothing happened that gave him any advantage.  The future of his career now looked at stake.  The bizarre, miniscule incident looked like putting an end to yet another good chance of winning a Major.  Was he destined to become one of those great golfers never to win a Major in his glossy career?  Speculation was rife.  He was playing with Lee Westwood (pictured below), one of those “great golfers who has not yet one a Major” in 73 attempts.  The Englishman was dropping shots all over the place on Sunday and so squandered yet another Major opportunity.  A bad omen for DJ too perhaps.

 

 

And then the Irishman.  Whether it was the pressure of being in contention on the final day of the US Open or uncertainty over the “moving ball” situation and not knowing exactly how many strokes Johnson was ahead of him, it’s not clear.  But something seemed to erode Shane Lowry’s game down the final stretch.  Perhaps DJ was destined for victory after all.

 

“I’ve knocked on the door a bunch of times – this is awesome!”

 

May the best man win, is my motto.  And thankfully he did.  Against all odds, Dustin Johnson rose above all the hoo- ha.  He kept his cool, despite things not going his way, and won his first Major – the 116th US Open.

 

 

After discussions with the USGA in the clubhouse, he did incur a one-shot penalty, but thankfully his birdie at the 18th for a closing 68 (which became 69 with the penalty added) had given him an extra cushion.  Victory was still sweet for the friendly guy from South Carolina.  Instead of winning the US Open four shots ahead of Shane Lowry and fellow Americans Jim Furyk and Scott Piercy, he was three shots clear.  And that’s a winning margin to be truly proud of in a Major.  Especially on Father’s Day.

 

 

Wendy Hoad

 

 

PICTURED (from the top): Dustin Johnson with the US Open trophy; Johnson receiving bad news at the 12th hole; A disappointing share of second place for the Irishman Shane Lowry; Englishman Lee Westwood sees another Major title slip through his fingers; Johnson’s fiancée Paulina and their two-year old son Tatum are the first on the green to congratulate him.