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Golf

19th Jun 2016

Rory McIlroy leads criticism of USGA after hugely controversial Dustin Johnson penalty shot incident

SportsJOE

A farce.

Whatever your allegiances lie – and most people reading this are probably firmly in the Shane Lowry camp – you have to give everyone a fair chance.

Spare a thought then for Dustin Johnson.

Leading the US Open on the final round, having closed the gap on Lowry, Johnson is in hot pursuit of his first major.

But on the 12th tee he was told by course officials that he may face a one-shot penalty when his round is completed for an alleged grounding of his putter on the 5th green.

Talk about messing with his head. How is he supposed to concentrate fully knowing that decision is pending? Either penalise him or don’t. But make a decision on it.

The USGA have come in for some serious flak for their actions with Rory McIlroy brandishing their actions ‘amateur hour’ and even Shane Lowry’s cousin David calling their actions “appalling”

The key question is whether Johnson caused the ball to move and whether or not he grounded his club.

Replays show that the ball moved on the 5th tee as Johnson was practicing his putting stroke. But he hadn’t grounded his putter and you can even here Lee Westwood saying “It rolled that way but you hadn’t addressed it”.

The criticism came thick and fast.