Dustin Johnson gets support from rivals in rules issue at U.S. Open
Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth critical of USGA actions
Some of Dustin Johnson's fellow players weighed in on a possible penalty against him for a ball that moved on the fifth green.
Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler all sent out tweets calling the possibility of a penalty ridiculous and laughable.
McIlroy was harshest, saying it was amateur hour on behalf of the U.S. Golf Association, which runs the U.S. Open. Spieth said penalizing Johnson would be a joke.
This is ridiculous... No penalty whatsoever for DJ. Let the guy play without this crap in his head. Amateur hour from <a href="https://twitter.com/USGA">@USGA</a>
—@McIlroyRory
Lemme get this straight.. DJ doesn't address it. It's ruled that he didn't cause it to move. Now you tell him he may have? Now? This a joke?
—@JordanSpieth
.<a href="https://twitter.com/JordanSpieth">@JordanSpieth</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/McIlroyRory">@McIlroyRory</a> w/ you boys! The fact that the <a href="https://twitter.com/USGA">@usga</a> thinks that DJ caused the ball to move is completely ridiculous! Laughable!
—@RickieFowler
Johnson later made the controversy a moot point, ultimately claiming his first major title despite being assessed the penalty.
America's most powerful golfer took matters into his own hands with a 10-foot par save on the 16th hole, a tee shot he smashed down the middle of the 18th fairway and an approach to 5 feet for birdie that left no doubt who won the toughest test in golf.
Only after he was guaranteed that silver trophy did the USGA assess him a one-shot penalty, turning his final score into a 1-under 69 for a three-shot victory.
Johnson was leading the championship by one stroke when he was informed on the 12th tee by a USGA official that he might be penalised after the round despite being cleared on the spot of the possible infraction.
Johnson's ball appeared to move slightly as the long-hitting American was preparing to attempt his par putt. He denied having caused the ball to move and the official accompanying the pairing decided not to levy a penalty.
Seven holes later, Johnson was told that video evidence of the incident would be reviewed after the round.
"After looking at the video, we have some concerns," Jeff Hall, the USGA's managing director of rules and competitions, explained to FOX TV. "We put him on notice that, based on what we saw, the actions may lead to a penalty stroke."
With files from Reuters