Tour News

5 Things We Learned on Day 4 of the U.S. Open

Published

9 years ago

Jun 19, 2016

It was an odd week at the U.S. Open. The weather didn’t cooperate, and play was nearly pushed to Monday. The USGA caretakers of the game failed their associates and the tournament competitors at a moment when they might have shined. Fortunately for all of us, the course was a true and proper challenge for all involved and a splendid champion was crowned.

What did we learn on Day 4 of the 2016 U.S. Open? Let’s find out.

Something has to be done with golf’s officiating standard

The only sport that can make hockey laugh is golf. Somehow, we get it wrong every time and are left to appear worthy of ridicule. No other sport places doubt on the official assigned to the competition as does golf. Before you say “yes they do,” read me out. Every play in football, basketball, hockey and baseball is covered from three or four angles and can be reviewed fairly; not so with golf. Not every shot of every golfer (the LPGA missed Brooke Henderson’s hole-in-one last week at their marquee championship!) is captured by cameras, so it is patently unfair to allow a viewer call-in or a random replay to impact an event. It is time to place the official duties squarely on a trained team of officials, establish a standard that is recognized and respected by all professional tours, the Royal and Ancient, and the USGA, and not stray from it in the slightest.

Jim Furyk did his home folk proud

If anyone tells you that Furyk was among the favorites before Thursday, take them off your guest list. The old warrior, thought to be past his prime and ability to challenge for major titles, gave his western Pennsylvania neighbors and relatives cause to holler one last time. He didn’t leave Oakmont with the title, but he tied for 2nd place with 66, the low round of a Sunday that witnessed just six other scores in red figures. Even a final-hole bogey (which meant nothing in the end) could not take away the pride that Pittsburghers piled onto one of their own. In the grand tradition of that other fellow from Western PA, Arnold Palmer, Furyk dug deep and reminded us just how talented a golfer he is.

Kevin Na may win a major one day

Na was the only golfer to post under-par rounds each of the last three days. While other golfers were going sideways and backwards, the 33-year-old Tour winner quietly eased his way up the board, finishing 7th alone at Oakmont. Many great golfers have failed to win just one major in their careers, so why should Na? Well, just as many unknown quantities (Jeff Sluman, Keegan Bradley, Todd Hamilton, Ben Curtis, Trevor Immelman, Bob Goalby, to name a few) break through at just the right time to capture a major title. If Na does so, my money is on the U.S. Open or PGA Championship, which offer courses and conditions that favor his game.

The U.S. Open is heartless

For every successful grinder, there are 100 stories of heartbreak, frustration, doubt and surrender. Who among us didn’t wince, cringe, and shudder as Sergio made three consecutive bogeys on the back nine, as Shane Lowry made five bogeys in eight holes in the middle of his round, as Lee Westwood went an inconceivable (yes, I know what that word means) 8-over par on his outward nine? We watch it for the glory, but we also cannot turn our eyes away from the failures that humanize, if only for a moment, these gods of golf.

Dustin Johnson represents the dignity of golf

Say what you will about any transgressions the U.S. Open champion may have committed, and then eliminate them from any further discussion. This is the fellow who was hosed by the PGA in 2010, was kidney-punched by the 18th green at Chambers Bay in 2015, and was shanked by the British Open in 2011. And on he fights. No complaints, no excuses, no discussions of karma or evil spirits or vendettas. It is fitting that he earned his greatest triumph on a course that did not, theoretically, play to his strengths. Welcome to the major championship club, champ.

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Did the USGA handle Dustin Johnson’s U.S. Open ruling properly?

Ronald Montesano

Ronald Montesano writes for GolfWRX.com from western New York. He dabbles in coaching golf and teaching Spanish, in addition to scribbling columns on all aspects of golf, from apparel to architecture, from equipment to travel. Follow Ronald on Twitter at @buffalogolfer.

13 Comments

mT

Jun 21, 2016 at 2:08 pm

Perseverance.

Reply Report comment
Big Mike

Jun 20, 2016 at 5:09 pm

DJ deserves a lot of respect. Not only is he a great golfer but also a good person. He stepped up and confronted his personal demons a few years ago,and got sober. It takes a lot of integrity and guts to do that. Happy to see him winning

Reply Report comment
Captain Wedge

Jun 20, 2016 at 1:33 pm

The game of golf is built on honor and integrity. The only sport where you are required to call penalties on yourself…I realize a lot more is on the line with these guys but that doesn’t mean we should abandon the spirit of the game. If DJ said he didn’t move the ball, then unless there was irrefutable evidence to the contrary, then he DIDN’T MOVE THE BALL, no penalty, and move on! And for what it’s worth, if you watch the video, the ball actually moves backward towards his putter. Now unless his putter has some sort of gravitational pull, I don’t know how it would have been physically possible for the ball to move because of him.

But I wholeheartedly agree with the article in that the rules officiating needs a major overhaul in golf. Viewer call ins, post round replays. It’s all BS. Rulings need to be made on the spot, otherwise its history.

Reply Report comment
- Michael
  
  Jun 20, 2016 at 4:58 pm
  
  I saw the ball move backwards too. I don’t think that was harped on enough. No way he made that ball move backwards. Well said!
  
  Reply Report comment
Jacob

Jun 20, 2016 at 11:13 am

Ronald Montesano,
So as someone who is not a soccer fan I went to my first game in Kansas City a few weeks back. And in many sports even golf the rules are clearly outline even though subjective in some regards. Holding according the NFL “A penalty assessed when a player grabs another player in order to gain an advantage. Holding can be called on the offense or the defense.” is truly subjective to the official but clearly defined. But there’s holding on every play, however does it give the player the advantage? That’s where the rule gets subjective.
Many rules in golf just like what happened to DJ is clearly defined but subjective. In soccer a foul can be consider: “a group 6 direct free kick careless, recklessly and with excessive force”. According to FIFA “careless means that the player has shown a lack of attention or consideration when making his challenge or that he acted without precaution.” Reckless means ” that the player has acted with complete disregard of the danger to, or consequences for his opponent.” Using excessive force means ” that the player has far exceeded the necessary use of force and is in danger of injuring his opponent.” Clearly no defined rules, all completely subjective from the get go. I asked everyone sitting around me about the rules and why things were called etc. I could not get an answer.
Now in golf, the rules are defined but personal opinion and how the situation unfolds is not. DJ’s issue really pretty simple from the USGA standpoint. The ball moved, yes. What moved the ball? No one knows. The logical explanation from the USGA stand point is DJ caused the ball to move. Replay leaves that in doubt. To the avid golfer such as myself, it’s easy to come to the conclusion that DJ didn’t cause the ball to move. Freak things happen, we’ve all been there before. What if DJ was at the British Open and he walks onto the green, and because he stepped onto the green the wind shifted off his body and moved the ball? According to the USGA ruling today DJ caused the ball to move.
To the USGA, the governing body of golf was on their high horse protecting the integrity of the game(my opinion). A simple fix is, did the ball move? And the player caused it? If the player did cause the move, did it give the player a significant advantage prior to the move? If yes, penalty. That’s where instant replay comes into play and the subjective part of the rule hits home. The official/players makes a decision. Decided the significant advantage through replay, but stop calling nit picky penalties, it only hurts the game of golf.

Reply Report comment
rwj

Jun 20, 2016 at 5:52 am

Hosed by the PGA. Seriously? The rules were clearly stated and followed by everyone…except DJ. He broke a rule. Do you know what the word dignity means? A golfer with amazing abilities yes, but deserving of honor? Nope. I bet you believe Arod is deserving of respect as well.

Reply Report comment
- KJ
  
  Jun 20, 2016 at 10:15 am
  
  What rule did he break? He accepted the highly questionable ruling by the USGA as judged by his peers and the golfing public. He didn’t whine or complain. I think he handled it in a very sportsmanlike manner and overcame the distraction with a tremendous second shot and birdie on the final hole. You seem to dislike DJ for unknown reasons. Seems irrational to me. Best of luck with your issue(s).
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Ronald Montesano
    
    Jun 20, 2016 at 12:21 pm
    
    KJ,
    
    I think you nailed the hit on the head. Folks are predisposed to like/dislike Dustin Johnson, out of who knows what motivation. Jealousy, indignation, whatever they wish. I believe that they are attempting to find evidence to support their claims, instead of examining the evidence and coming to a conclusion.
    
    Reply Report comment
Desmond

Jun 20, 2016 at 4:27 am

I learned again that the US Open is my least favorite major to watch. The setup – it seems every year the setup has issues.

Reply Report comment
- Ronald Montesano
  
  Jun 20, 2016 at 12:19 pm
  
  If the greens had been just a bit slower, the setup would have been perfect. I’m certain that Oakmont’s members demanded either lightning-quick greens or waist-high rough. Since more injuries occur with the later than the former, the association accepted the former.
  
  Reply Report comment
Tigers yells f*ck

Jun 20, 2016 at 1:24 am

The USGA should be ashamed of the way they handled their officiating today. The one stroke penalty ended up being a non-issue but to hang a possible penalty over one of the leaders heads going into the final nine is one of the worst possible things they could’ve done. If it had been an issue and affected the outcome of the tournament this would be a total shitstorm for the governing body of American golf, on top of all the other mistakes they’ve made in recent years. I’m glad I’m no longer a member of the organization.

Reply Report comment
ryan

Jun 19, 2016 at 11:31 pm

“No other sport places doubt on the official assigned to the competition as does golf.” Have you ever heard of soccer? gimme a break….

Reply Report comment
- Ronald Montesano
  
  Jun 20, 2016 at 7:11 am
  
  Hey, ryan…
  
  Could you elaborate? I’d like to read your argument. You might convince me.
  
  I’ve never seen a soccer ruling overturned like I see happen in golf.
  
  RM
  
  Reply Report comment

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5 Things We Learned on Day 4 of the U.S. Open

Tour News

5 Things We Learned on Day 4 of the U.S. Open