A Strange Sports Summer Continues

Martin Kaymer of Germany won the PGA Championship Sunday. But that was far from the whole story.

With 1,200 + bunkers, golfers at Whistling Straits are bound to find one at some point during a round of golf. Unfortunately for Dustin Johnson, he found one that was so far out of the line of play, he, the CBS announcers, and the thousands of spectators had no idea he was in one. Why does this matter?

Because he grounded his club before playing his 2^nd shot. On the 18^th hole. Leading a major championship by 1 shot.

You aren’t allowed to ground your club in a bunker or hazard. This rule is drilled into you from almost the first time you go out and play. And had Johnson found any of the other bunkers littering the 18^th hole, there wouldn’t have been a problem.

But this was different. Because of the trash and debris he and his caddy found around the ball, they thought they were clear of the bunkers. The rules official wasn’t around to correct him. So, with the crowd surrounding him, Johnson unleashed a 4-iron to the rough left of the green. He pitched on and had a putt to be a major golf champion.

And he missed.

This was ok, since Johnson was now going to playoff for the title with Kaymer, and Bubba Watson. But a rules official intercepted him before he could get off the green. The drama unfolded. And, Johnson was out of the tournament.

It was clearly marked in the local rules the players got before the tournament that all the sandy areas were bunkers. It’s a shame that Johnson and his caddy weren’t aware they were in a bunker, due to the placement of the crowd. And it’s a shame the rules official didn’t intervene, to point out that he was standing in a bunker. It is up to the player to know where he is on the course at all times, so I think most of this is on Johnson. A rules official should be close by the leader of a tournament on the last hole no matter what, in order to prevent rules confusion. But, that’s golf, and that’s life.

It was still an epic ending. Too bad no one watches golf unless Tiger is in the lead.

In sports news JFein cares about, the Phillies beat the Mets 3-1, to win 2 out of 3 in New York. This leaves them 2 back of Atlanta in the NL East, and in a tie with the Giants for the Wild Card. With the Eagles season about to start, it’s sure to be another busy September in Philadelphia.

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