The Open, the USGA, and Common Sense

Golf has had its fair share of controversies — both on and off the course.  This weekend provided more than a few with the US Open being played at one of the Nation’s most difficult courses, Oakmont.

The greens were insane, the weather (on the first day) was unpredictable, and the USGA made some questionable rulings.

Now, I wouldn’t want to be a rules official on a golf course, much less during major, and definitely not in this case.  No matter what decision you make, someone is going to think you got it wrong.  You can’t please everyone, and the video evidence (at least to me) was inconclusive.

 
There are those that believe that golf needs to move into the modern age and revisit some of the arcane rules that govern the sport. I wouldn’t go that far. The rules of golf are what make the sport unique.

To be honest, I have a tough time determining some rulings on my shots, even with the USGA Rules App.  Maybe it’s just that I don’t want to know, but it seems to me that the rules officials need to know.

It’s a difficult task to make the tough calls that, although they may not be popular, have to be made to preserve the integrity of the sport.  Although a ruling may penalize one athlete, the same ruling may benefit another.

Players like Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler took to social media to express their ire with officials concerning a delayed ruling for Dustin Johnson and a moving ball on the putting green…

This is ridiculous… No penalty whatsoever for DJ. Let the guy play without this crap in his head. Amateur hour from @USGA

— Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory) June 19, 2016

.@JordanSpieth @McIlroyRory w/ you boys! The fact that the @usga thinks that DJ caused the ball to move is completely ridiculous! Laughable!

— Rickie Fowler (@RickieFowler) June 19, 2016

When popular athletes give their opinions, their respective fans follow their lead. Before long, the USGA was besieged on social media with angry tweets and accusations of unfair treatment of Johnson.  There were those that said they should’ve waited until after the round to address Dustin.  Others stated that they should’ve let DJ know right on the 12th tee.  I agree with the latter.  Imagine having that hanging over your head for 7 more holes.

Commentators argued whether the other athletes in contention should be made aware of the pending situation, in order for them to adjust their strategies.  This opportunity was given to Johnson.

Either way, it’s a thankless job that he officials have, and rarely is the spotlight on them until something like this happens.

In the end, the USGA made their ruling and didn’t even matter.  It seems that they may have rattled DJ after the conversation, but it looked like it just made him more determined.

Welcome to the club, Dustin.  It’s about time.

Hit ’em long and straight…

Cover Photo via YouTube