I’ve been a Dustin Johnson fan for about two years now, and today when he sunk his birdie on the 17th/71st hole at Whistling Straights, I thought for sure he’d be the winner of his first major at the PGA Championship. I was really excited for the guy that I’d been pulling for to break through over the last couple seasons. I met him when he was first coming onto the scene, and he was a very likable guy. Really easy going, and someone you truly want to see succeed. He had more Phil than Tiger in him. I thought his coming out party was going to happen when he was leading in the US Open at Pebble Beach heading into the final round, but he choked hard on the 2nd and 3rd holes, and was never able to recover. Even MCeezy, who never watches golf was pulling for him in the US Open. He was right there at the Brittish Open, but Louie had an insurmountable lead after getting favorable playing conditions for each of his rounds, so DJ was an after thought on the leader board as was everyone else on that Sunday. I thought today was DJ’s day since he was one shot up with only one hole to go, but it wasn’t to be as he was once again a victim of himself.
Is it a bunker? I wouldn't call it one, unless the green fees were only $1 for that course....
His tee shot was bad, but the disaster wasn’t even him hitting his second shot from the middle of a hoard of onlookers. You’ve probably heard about it by now. His ball was sitting in what looked like a cart path like area that was trampled from numerous spectators walking on it all weekend. I’m not saying that it didn’t look like a bunker, but it was one f***ed up bunker that looked worse than any municipal course bunker I’ve seen. In the heat of the moment, it was tough to really confirm that he was in a bunker. When he addressed the ball in the f***ed up bunker, he ended up touching his club to the ground, and that cost him any chance at the major. There were boos raining down from the crowd as the ruling was made shortly after he putted out and was on his way to what seemed to be a three way playoff. The ruling honestly killed my enthusiasm for the playoff and the rest of the tourney. I can’t say I don’t agree with the ruling, since a rule is a rule, and they did post it in the locker rooms. The only winner in this situation was CBS, because all the drama at the end had to add to their ratings.
All in all, it was Johnson’s fault for not taking the time to check it out with a rules official or anyone just to make sure that it wasn’t a hazard. Actually if I was DJ, I’d probably have some choice words for Bobby Brown (his caddy) for not noticing that it was a hazard. Every players caddy should be reminding their player of rules on any particular course. The caddies sure make enough to be held accountable for that (10% of the winnings usually). DJ handled it classy though. He didn’t scream injustice or cry about it. He solemnly faced the reporters the same way he did after his implosion at Pebble, and gave them the disappointed answers they were looking for. As an avid golf fan, I’m happy that we will have a better storyline for the major news networks to talk about than how Phil and Tiger did. Hopefully this will be a tipping point to where we can start talking about all the great up and coming golfers in the mainstream media like McIllroy, Johnson, Watson, Ishikawa, Kaymer, and Day.
By
cali4dre
chappy81
dyslecix
mceezy
Doin Work 
August 16th, 2010 at 6:10 am
I agree, man. I don’t see what all the fuss is about this morning.
Erik Kuselias is going off on the penalty but this is nothing new.
No golfer puts his club down on anything that even RESEMBLES sand on a golf course.
Live and learn, Dustin.
August 16th, 2010 at 8:47 am
Yeah, as much as I want to side with Dustin, I can’t really. It was a stupid mistake on a very basic rule. They never hid the fact that there were a million bunkers on the course as that seems to be a selling point for the course design…
It’s going to be funny to hear the outrage pour in. I think if DJ is okay with it everyone else should be too. It’s not like he’s calling for the ruling to be changed or protesting the decision!
August 16th, 2010 at 7:41 am
chappy
It’s not so much whether or not it’s a bunker but did Johnson also ground his shot before legitimately playing ? The PGA to begin with is a joke and though the rules are clearly posted Johnson fluffed this and he has no one but himself to blame . Kudos to Kaymer for the win ! As for Bubba Watson he comes across as an athletically gifted version of John Daly M but he does need to use his brains more . You simply can’t think that by hitting the ball 350 yds plus is the only way you can win. Show and add some finesse to your game.
🙂
tophatal ………….. 🙂
August 16th, 2010 at 8:59 am
I think he did ground the club. There were two times that were questionable. One was before he had someone stand there to block the light it looked like his club was touching the sand. The other was right before he hit the ball, but that one was much less difinitive… My guess is when he met with the rules officials he just admitted he put the club on the ground and that was that.
I agree with you about Bubba, he just blasts it and hope the rest works out. I think that’s another thing I really like about DJ. He has that vision to make up some very creative shots around the green.
August 16th, 2010 at 10:55 am
chappy
The Tour to me now has become akin to NASCAR but without the futility of having to see the spinouts or the players try to be overly masculine and calling each other out. Lefty says he’s now a vegan . But you’d think that his fat ass would have the stomach for a challenge of wanting to be the world’s # 1 golfer ? Instead he comes off looking like a wuss !
As for Johnson there’s a great deal of maturity in his play and game . Watson on the other hand I’m not so sure !
🙂
tophatal ………. 🙂
August 17th, 2010 at 10:33 am
chappy
In order not to alienate anyone Corey Pavin would like for you to be one of his picks on the US Ryder Cup team . By the way Jim Gray would very much like to conduct an interview with you and says he’s willing to pay for the privilege ? Keep it on the down low as we wouldn’t want to hurt the feelings of a bitching LeBron James LOL,LOL,LOL !!!
tophatal ………. 🙂
August 17th, 2010 at 11:33 am
I greacously accept! I would love to represent the US even though I miss half of my five foot putts 🙂
August 16th, 2010 at 8:00 am
[…] Kaymer Wins the Pga Championship, but Dustin Johnson’s Mishap … I’ve been a Dustin Johnson fan for about two years now, and today when he sunk his birdie on the 17th/71st hole at Whistling Straights, I thought for sure he’d be the winner of his first major at the PGA Championship. …This Post […]
August 16th, 2010 at 8:42 am
[…] I’ve been a Dustin Johnson fan for about two years now, and today when he sunk his birdie on the 17th/71st hole at Whistling Straights, I thought for sure he’d be the winner of his first major at the PGA Championship. …This Post […]
August 17th, 2010 at 11:59 am
chappy
Just be like Tiger just see or envisage the hole as being one great big vagina . Scratch that as that’s what led to his current problems . Seeing way too much va-jay-jay on and off the golf course . LOL,LOL ,LOL !!!
tophatal ………. 🙂