‘Never once crossed my mind’ – Officials intervened to deny PGA Championship victory after unknown rule violation
It really does pay to read the fine print. Just ask Dustin Johnson, who could have won his first major in 2010 at the PGA Championship. GettyJohnson will have had nightmares for six years over the 2010 PGA Championship[/caption] Instead, a small but incredibly costly oversight meant the victory champagne for a major was on ice until 2016 when he won the U.S. Open. Going into the final round of the PGA Championship, Johnson required only a par on the par-four 18th to notch his maiden major title. He’d earned a one-shot lead thanks to impressive birdies on the 16th and 17th holes which put him ahead of Martin Kaymer and Bubba Watson. Unfortunately for Johnson, he began the final hole with an errant tee shot that flew to the right of the fairway and settled in a sandy patch. Although there was sand in the vicinity of the ball, it was not a traditional bunker. But then again, Whistling Straits isn’t exactly a traditional course and Johnson unfortunately learned that the hard way. Despite Whistling Straits boasting over 1,000 bunkers across the course, many of them would be seen as ‘waste areas’ where players could ground their club in the process of striking the ball. However, a unique rule was in play for the 2010 PGA Championship which meant every sand patch dotted across the course was to be played as a hazard. Johnson grounded his club prior to taking his shot in an area that was deemed to be a bunker and incurred a two-stroke penalty as a result of the infringement. The American remained blissfully unaware of the rule he’d just broken as he missed his putt for par, meaning he had to settle for a bogey and was set for a play-off. GettyJohnson thought he’d made the playoff, only to learn of the devastating news[/caption] Well, at least he thought that was going to be the case until PGA rule officials broke the bad news almost immediately after he’d carded his bogey on the 18th. Understandably it took Johnson some time to register the error he had just made, but he eventually shared his perspective on the rollercoaster of emotions he’d endured. “I just thought I was on a piece of dirt that the crowd had trampled down,” Johnson said. “I never thought I was in a sand trap. It never once crossed my mind that I was in a bunker. “Obviously I know the rules of golf and I can’t ground my club in a bunker, but that was just one situation I guess. “Maybe I should have looked to the rule sheet a little harder.” Officials wasted no time in letting Johnson know his PGA Championship bid was overGetty As harsh as it sounds, Johnson should definitely have paid closer attention to the rule sheet because it outlined the specific bunker rule he fell foul of. Organisers went to great lengths to inform players of the rule as each competitor was handed a note which had all the details, with the same note also pinned up in the locker room. The note read: “All areas of the course that were designed and built as sand bunkers will be played as bunkers (hazards), whether or not they have been raked. “This will mean that many bunkers positioned outside of the ropes, as well some areas of bunkers inside the ropes, close to the rope line, will likely include numerous footprints, heel prints and tire tracks during the play of the Championship. “Such irregularities of surface are a part of the game and no free relief will be available from these conditions.” Nick Watney, who played alongside Johnson in the final twosome, was one who expressed his support for his crestfallen rival having made a ‘really unfortunate’ error. “Honestly, I don’t think anyone reads the sheet,” Watney said. “We’ve played hundreds of tournaments. We get a sheet every week. I feel for him. I’ve never seen fans in a bunker with a player. That was a little odd. “I will say this. Dustin was adamant that he did ground his club. And it was on the sheet. “Man, that’s a tough call, though. Guy’s first major. Playoff. It’s really unfortunate.” It was Kaymer who ultimately prevailed over Watson in the playoff, but the story remained centred on Johnson and his brutal blunder. Although he may not have won at Whistling Straits that year, at least Johnson learned a pivotal lesson that has undoubtedly served him well for the rest of his career.
It really does pay to read the fine print.
Just ask Dustin Johnson, who could have won his first major in 2010 at the PGA Championship.
Instead, a small but incredibly costly oversight meant the victory champagne for a major was on ice until 2016 when he won the U.S. Open.
Going into the final round of the PGA Championship, Johnson required only a par on the par-four 18th to notch his maiden major title.
He’d earned a one-shot lead thanks to impressive birdies on the 16th and 17th holes which put him ahead of Martin Kaymer and Bubba Watson.
Unfortunately for Johnson, he began the final hole with an errant tee shot that flew to the right of the fairway and settled in a sandy patch.
Although there was sand in the vicinity of the ball, it was not a traditional bunker.
But then again, Whistling Straits isn’t exactly a traditional course and Johnson unfortunately learned that the hard way.
Despite Whistling Straits boasting over 1,000 bunkers across the course, many of them would be seen as ‘waste areas’ where players could ground their club in the process of striking the ball.
However, a unique rule was in play for the 2010 PGA Championship which meant every sand patch dotted across the course was to be played as a hazard.
Johnson grounded his club prior to taking his shot in an area that was deemed to be a bunker and incurred a two-stroke penalty as a result of the infringement.
The American remained blissfully unaware of the rule he’d just broken as he missed his putt for par, meaning he had to settle for a bogey and was set for a play-off.
Well, at least he thought that was going to be the case until PGA rule officials broke the bad news almost immediately after he’d carded his bogey on the 18th.
Understandably it took Johnson some time to register the error he had just made, but he eventually shared his perspective on the rollercoaster of emotions he’d endured.
“I just thought I was on a piece of dirt that the crowd had trampled down,” Johnson said.
“I never thought I was in a sand trap. It never once crossed my mind that I was in a bunker.
“Obviously I know the rules of golf and I can’t ground my club in a bunker, but that was just one situation I guess.
“Maybe I should have looked to the rule sheet a little harder.”
As harsh as it sounds, Johnson should definitely have paid closer attention to the rule sheet because it outlined the specific bunker rule he fell foul of.
Organisers went to great lengths to inform players of the rule as each competitor was handed a note which had all the details, with the same note also pinned up in the locker room.
The note read: “All areas of the course that were designed and built as sand bunkers will be played as bunkers (hazards), whether or not they have been raked.
“This will mean that many bunkers positioned outside of the ropes, as well some areas of bunkers inside the ropes, close to the rope line, will likely include numerous footprints, heel prints and tire tracks during the play of the Championship.
“Such irregularities of surface are a part of the game and no free relief will be available from these conditions.”
Nick Watney, who played alongside Johnson in the final twosome, was one who expressed his support for his crestfallen rival having made a ‘really unfortunate’ error.
“Honestly, I don’t think anyone reads the sheet,” Watney said.
“We’ve played hundreds of tournaments. We get a sheet every week. I feel for him. I’ve never seen fans in a bunker with a player. That was a little odd.
“I will say this. Dustin was adamant that he did ground his club. And it was on the sheet.
“Man, that’s a tough call, though. Guy’s first major. Playoff. It’s really unfortunate.”
It was Kaymer who ultimately prevailed over Watson in the playoff, but the story remained centred on Johnson and his brutal blunder.
Although he may not have won at Whistling Straits that year, at least Johnson learned a pivotal lesson that has undoubtedly served him well for the rest of his career.
