PGA Tour
Golf pros are furious over the Dustin Johnson U.S. Open penalty fiasco
PGA Tour

Golf pros are furious over the Dustin Johnson U.S. Open penalty fiasco

Published Jun. 19, 2016 6:58 p.m. ET

Early in Dustin Johnson's round Sunday at the fifth hole, his ball moved slightly on the green before he addressed it and grounded his club. Johnson consulted the rules official with the group, who instructed Johnson to play the ball where it lies. Johnson holed his putt and continued on with his round. 

More than an hour later, a USGA rules official approached Johnson and informed him - while he was leading the tournament by two strokes - that "after looking at the video, the actions that he took could very well have caused the ball to move," according to the USGA's managing director Jeff Hall. Johnson was "put on notice" that a penalty stroke may be assessed after he finished, and then had to continue on with his round. 

[UPDATE]: Johnson was assessed a one-stroke penalty, but it only reduced his margin of victory from four to three strokes.

Many of Johnson's fellow competitors were outraged by the series of events.

ADVERTISEMENT
share


Get more from PGA Tour Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic