Year in Review Countdown #7: Johnson Wins US Open

Much like Henrick Stenson, Dustin Johnson has been at the precipice of a major victory before (which is why neither Stenson’s win at the Open, nor Johnson’s win at the U.S. Open are not higher in this countdown. It was expected for both of them.)

The long-hitting South Carolinian has finished in the top-10 at majors a remarkable 13 times, including his win at the U.S. Open this year. In fact, before he missed the cut at this year’s PGA, Johnson had finished in the top-10 at every major going back to the 2015 Masters with the exception of the 2015 Open Championship (where he was in contention after two rounds but was blown off the course by the weekend wind.)

So, a case could have been made that, at the time of his first of what I’m sure will be many major wins, Johnson was the best player to have never won a major.

What’s even more remarkable is that he won at what is considered to be one of the hardest golf courses on the continent. Of course, the weather on Thursday may have played into Johnson’s hands, softening and lengthening an already long, tough golf course. With his power, and the fear of the ball sliding off the fairways into rough alleviated, Johnson could be aggressive with Oakmont CC in a way the membership probably didn’t want to see.

The real story of this championship, however, was the bizarre ruling issued to Johnson on the final day of play, and the manner in which the USGA delivered that ruling.

On the fifth green, Johnson’s ball moved when he addressed it. The rules official on the scene determined that Johnson had done nothing wrong and advised Johnson to continue play. On the 12th tee, Johnson was informed he may have caused the ball to move on the fifth green and could be assessed a penalty, but they would have to review the video of the incident to determine what, if any, penalty would be assessed.

Imagine you are in the lead of a tournament, it is the biggest tournament you have ever lead and you have been told you might have some kind of penalty coming. Now, imagine having to concentrate on every shot, every situation, every gust of wind and blade of grass around you with that knowledge. Now, imagine making a solid golf swing.

Good luck.

Fortunately, the story has a happy ending. Johnson being the pro he is, managed to hold himself together to finish with a four-stroke lead, meaning the penalty of one stroke he was given was meaningless, a bizarre footnote to the tournament.

But what if that stroke would have put Johnson in a playoff, or if he would have lost outright because of it?

All that having been said, we can all expect this rule to be amended yet again (as it was at the beginning of this year.)

And despite this strange incident, Johnson is the defending U.S. Open champion and deservedly so.

Cover Image via Flickr