USGA Overshadows Dustin’s Win

By winning the 2016 U.S. Open, Dustin Johnson finally cracked and scrambled the goose egg next to his name in major championships. He dominated in every area, clearing the competition by four strokes. Or was it three?

By now we know the story:

On the fifth hole of the final round of the U.S. Open, Dustin Johnson’s ball, resting on the green six feet from the hole, moved after he had grounded his putter. He called over a Rules official.

While the United States Golf Association went to the video tape to review the situation, Johnson played on, making the putt.

It then took seven holes—more than 90 minutes—for USGA officials, including Colorado’s Thomas Pagel, to inform Johnson that he may have incurred a one-stroke penalty under Rule 18-2.

Not knowing whether his score would be one higher than the actual number of strokes he physically took, Johnson played the final seven holes in even par. He capped it off with a stirring approach and birdie on 18 to pad his margin.

Yet all the announcers could talk about was what the USGA ruling would be.

At the risk of parroting Jimmy Fallon….

“Thank you, USGA….For stealing Dustin Johnson’s big moment by being a bigger distraction than his wife’s dress and by adding unnecessary intrigue to the drama of signing of his scorecard.”

On Monday, the USGA has since made an official statement regretting the distraction caused by waiting until the end of the round to decide on the ruling.

“It is normal for rulings based on video evidence to await the end of a round, when the matter can be discussed with the player before the score card is returned,” the statement read.

“While our focus on getting the ruling correct was appropriate, we created uncertainty about where players stood on the leader board after we informed Dustin on the 12th tee that his actions on the fifth green might lead to a penalty. This created unnecessary ambiguity for Dustin and the other players, as well as spectators on-site, and those watching and listening on television and digital channels.”

Of course, it didn’t help that viewers at home didn’t have the benefit of seeing the replay. His fellow competitors didn’t see it either, yet they all supported his contention that he didn’t cause the ball to move.

Frankly, it’s immaterial whether or not Dustin Johnson caused the ball to move microscopically by grounding his club next to it.

What mattered was the protracted decision-making process and the ambiguous we-know-something-you-don’t-know manner in which the USGA delivered the information.

In their actions, USGA managed to become a bigger story than Dustin Johnson.

The USGA takes pride in being the standard-bearer for golf. By holding the U.S. Open, our national championship, on a supremely challenging golf course with jungle rough and greens stimping at 14, the USGA believes it will deliver the best possible champion.

And during this year’s edition, that champion was Dustin Johnson.

However, this year’s U.S. Open also reflects two things at which the U.S. also excels: over-regulation and bureaucracy.

One of the great ironies about Sunday’s debacle is that most USGA officials I’ve encountered are the same type of guys who carp about governmental overreach—about rules, regulations and bureaucratic red tape interfering with their ability to operate their businesses.

When the National Football League started assessing penalties and fines for excessive celebration, the players joked that “NFL” actually stood for the No Fun League. Whatever joke you want to make about the initials U.S.G.A., during this year’s open the G didn’t stand for good.

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