We are witnessing the stupidest decision I've ever seen in sports

[jeffwarne]

The USGA has completely blown this one.


So the trailing players don't know where Dustin stands
he doesn't know where he stands


Dustin said he did not cause it to move.
So USGA morons, look at the tape and make  a decision so everybody knows where they stand


Easily the stupidest thing I've ever seen in sports


followed CLOSELY by ruining the game with loss of control over equipment and agronomy


The USGA sucks-you've absolutely lost me.
Go develop some more faster grasses and collect more money to defend lawsuits you'll never have to defend because you're spineless.


Did it ever occur to these suits that superfast greens might the reason the balls won't stay still?


Speaking to DJ after a decision had ALREADY been made by his walking official was absolute bullshit.
UNLESS you are THEN going to immediately call the penalty because you deem he DID cause it to move.
CALL it then you wusses-or don't speak to him.




It's a game of honor-he said he didn't make it move-nothing on the video shows he did.


USGA has blown it---again---and again.


Go talk about 15 stimp green speeds Jeff Hall-or other ways you can ruin our once great game

[Joe Hancock]

Sorry JW, I was writing up a thread simultaneously.

Yours is more comprehensive and informed.

[Kalen Braley]

OMG!!

Will someone please tell Joe Buck to stop mentioning this every 5 seconds....we know there's a problem douchebag!!

[John Kavanaugh]

You've got to love Lowry for accepting fault a couple of days ago in the exact same situation. I'm never going to mention his weight problem again.

[Dean Stokes]

They told him on the green it was ok. If now they decide he caused it to move and he didn't replace it is he DQ'd. How can they just give him a one shot penalty? Bizarre.

[Jamey Bryan]

I can't believe they're actually contesting a National Championship where nobody involved knows what the current status is!

Incredibly stupid.

Dean, since he relied on the decision of the official, he's absolved even if the decision is incorrect.

[Terry Lavin]

If grounding the putter on a too fast green makes the ball move, the fault is on the ground or the setup, NOT THE PLAYER. Lowry got pimped by the same rule. Slow down the f'ing greens or change the f'ing rule. This is horrendous.  He didn't hit the ball or graze the ball. If the percussion of his putter caused the ball to turn a smidgen, how is that a penalty?  But if both he and Lowry both were victimized and one wins, there's accidental justice I suppose.

[jeffwarne]

The USGA has completely blown this one.


So the trailing players don't know where Dustin stands
he doesn't know where he stands


Dustin said he did not cause it to move.
So USGA morons, look at the tape and make  a decision so everybody knows where they stand


Easily the stupidest thing I've ever seen in sports


followed CLOSELY by ruining the game with loss of control over equipment and agronomy


The USGA sucks-you've absolutely lost me.
Go develop some more faster grasses and collect more money to defend lawsuits you'll never have to defend because you're spineless.


Did it ever occur to these suits that superfast greens might the reason the balls won't stay still?


Speaking to DJ after a decision had ALREADY been made by his walking official was absolute bullshit.
UNLESS you are THEN going to immediately call the penalty because you deem he DID cause it to move.
CALL it then you wusses-or don't speak to him.




It's a game of honor-he said he didn't make it move-nothing on the video shows he did.


USGA has blown it---again---and again.


Go talk about 15 stimp green speeds Jeff Hall-or other ways you can ruin our once great game

Jeff:  I agree with you that the USGA has butchered this.  But I do think Dustin made the ball move.  If Lowry did, so did DJ.  DJ deserves the penalty.  But the USGA did blow this.

Game of honor.
he said he didn't make it move (I know there's a decision to the contrary)
If they disagree with him-call it now
He told them what he thinks and nothing on that video will change his mind-they don't need his input to make a call

[Mark Bourgeois]

Exactly. If he insists he didn't and hey make a judgment call based on a grainy zoomed video, after the tournament concludes, then where are we?

I thought 34-7/4.5 was supposed to have put this issue to bed.

Another question: has the definition of "caused to move" recently changed? Thought I heard Hall say it had.

[RJ_Daley]

What evidence that is better than we have seen via the zoomed in video that they can over rule the instantly conferred agreement by the official on scene and DJ's word he didn't cause it to move?  The USGA guy alluded to a decision but didn't specify which one that they maybe "still considering".  So it isn't over except the turmoil put into the competing players heads.  Maybe they can make it part of the "legendary US OPEN TEST" that players coming down the back 9 must take a gut shot from a heavyweight on the 11th tee.... 

[Terry Lavin]

Game of honor is the key. Johnson would rat himself out if he caused it to move. They can't call him a liar by going to video replay.  To use the language of the rule, the weight of the evidence should NOT mean that zoomed in slo-mo video of a ball wobbling after a player grounds his putter trumps the word of the player. If it does, the rules have lost their gravitas.

Let's hope he wins by two.

[RJ_Daley]

Not to mention DJ seems cursed by rulings (Whistling Straits bunker) and the final putt last year.

[Jim Adkisson]

The committee in charge of the competition is responsible to conduct a fair competition for all players...if it is deemed that DJ had more than likely caused his ball to move and they have video evidence for this opinion, it is for the protection of the field that the penalty must be assessed.

It is unfortunate that the walking official had not spent some time reviewing the situation with DJ and going over all of the evidence and all of his actions prior to the ball moving.

[Joe Hancock]

David Fay in explaining the rule says "it's always been this way". Yes the rule has, but the greens haven't.

Figure it out USGA.

[Terry Lavin]

David Fay in explaining the rule says "it's always been this way". Yes the rule has, but the greens haven't.

Figure it out USGA.

So true.

[jeffwarne]

The committee in charge of the competition is responsible to conduct a fair competition for all players...if it is deemed that DJ had more than likely caused his ball to move and they have video evidence for this opinion, it is for the protection of the field that the penalty must be assessed.

absolutely-then call it now
DJ's opinion isn't going to change.


How many players and fans think they got this right by waiting?
What's going to change?
Maybe the equipment I guess-there is an hour left-they may drive all the par 4's if there's a playoff tomorrow

[Mark Bourgeois]

However, the horse has left the barn on  the concept of the player being responsible for his own card. 

The USGA is the overlord now.  They decide how the player swings his clubs (the anchoring rule). And they've taken responsibility for the card away from the player.  And now this.... 

Agree with your first paragraph but re the second isn't this an echo of the Tiger Masters debacle?

[Ryan Coles]

Did the ball strike the putter when it fell back? The mic in the hole indicates that it did.

[Terry Lavin]

Did the ball strike the putter when it fell back? The mic in the indicates that it did.

Didn't hear that. But Johnson would KNOW that I would think.

[Sven Nilsen]

What are the chances the shadow of his putter made the ball move?

What's the ruling there?

[Mike Sweeney]

The committee in charge of the competition is responsible to conduct a fair competition for all players...if it is deemed that DJ had more than likely caused his ball to move and they have video evidence for this opinion, it is for the protection of the field that the penalty must be assessed.

absolutely-then call it now
DJ's opinion isn't going to change.


How many players and fans think they got this right by waiting?
What's going to change?
Maybe the equipment I guess-there is an hour left

Under 33-2-d, the Committee can suspend play:


________________________________________
. Course Unplayable
If the Committee or its authorized representative considers that for any reason the course is not in a playable condition or that there are circumstances that render the proper playing of the game impossible, it may, in match play or stroke play, order a temporary suspension of play or, in stroke play, declare play null and void and cancel all scores for the round in question. When a round is canceled, all penalties incurred in that round are canceled.

_______________________________________

As the proper score cannot be posted at this time, the course is clearly NOT playable. Suspend play, have DJ look at the tape, make a decision and resume play. If you tell me there is no precedent for this, that is the EXACT reason the words "ANY REASON" is in the rule in the first place.

[jeffwarne]

Did the ball strike the putter when it fell back? The mic in the indicates that it did.

It did but he was anchoring with an Eye 2 wedge.
No worries he can use his Taylormade superhot extra rebound driver to drive 18

[Jim Adkisson]

The committee in charge of the competition is responsible to conduct a fair competition for all players...if it is deemed that DJ had more than likely caused his ball to move and they have video evidence for this opinion, it is for the protection of the field that the penalty must be assessed.

absolutely-then call it now
DJ's opinion isn't going to change.


How many players and fans think they got this right by waiting?
What's going to change?
Maybe the equipment I guess-there is an hour left-they may drive all the par 4's if there's a playoff tomorrow

Jeff thank you for not using the part of my post where I state that the walking official should have spent more time going over the situation...There are only two types of rules officials: ones that have made a mistake while officiating and those who haven't officiated enough to make a mistake.

[Joe Hancock]

Did the ball strike the putter when it fell back? The mic in the indicates that it did.

Didn't hear that. But Johnson would KNOW that I would think.

I for one do not trust DJ in this.  His character is not exactly beyond reproach - in more ways than one.

Which is even further reaching than the USGA.

[Sven Nilsen]

Did the ball strike the putter when it fell back? The mic in the indicates that it did.

Didn't hear that. But Johnson would KNOW that I would think.

I for one do not trust DJ in this.  His character is not exactly beyond reproach - in more ways than one.

Just because he's dim, doesn't mean he's dihonourable.