Dustin Johnson has claimed his first major title, winning the U.S. Open despite playing the last seven holes not knowing whether he would face a penalty.
Yesterday’s final round at Oakmont has drawn heavy criticism from some of golf’s top names over a rules infraction and the USGA’s response to it. On the fifth green, Johnson’s ball appeared to move as he was about to address it. The
TaylorMade Golf player immediately stepped away and called over a rules official to explain he had not yet addressed the ball, with playing partner
Lee Westwood corroborating Johnson’s story.
At that time the rules official agreed that no penalty would be given. However when he was later leading the tournament he was approached on the 12th tee to be told the incident would be looked at again after he finished the round to assess whether or not a penalty was in fact needed.
While 31-year-old Johnson remained cool and calm despite this lack of clarity others including
Rory McIlroy and
Jordan Spieth took to social media to voice their disappointment with the USGA’s handling of the situation.
In the end it didn’t matter, Johnson was able to hold his nerve to finish the day with a 68. Even after he was given a 1-stroke penalty for the incident on the 5th the American still won at Oakmont 3-shots clear of his nearest competition.
“I told myself I would deal with it when I was done,” Johnson told reporters after his win. “I was playing good and I blocked it out and focused on each shot. I didn’t let it bother me.”Adding, “I knew when they walked up to me on the 12th tee when they said they had been watching it. But who cares? It doesn’t matter anymore. I’m glad it didn’t matter.”
Johnson appears to be one of the only people to not have cared about a situation that could have cost him his first major victory.
Want to know what TaylorMade gear this year’s U.S. Open winner used? Check out DJ’s bag below:
Ball:
TaylorMade Tour Preferred X
Driver:
TaylorMade M1
3-wood:
TaylorMade M1
Wedges:
TaylorMade Tour Preferred EF
