PGA Championship and DJ

[Happy Panther]

Is there a thread on this yet?

I think DJ is too blame as would anyone be if the break a rule. And his caddy. Golf is a very strict rules game

At the same time this has happened at least 3 times now. Twice possibly costing the championship

[Darth Biscuit]

We've discussed it in another thread... IMO the PGA was right and DJ made a mental error. I thought it was a bunker when they first showed the ball in the gallery. You should never ground your club in sand, period. Mental mistake on his part...

What "3 times now" are you referring to?

[Happy Panther]

Stuart Appleby did it at a previous event at the same course and some club pro did it in the first round (I think) of this tourney.

Appleby took full responsibility back then but here is what he tweeted:

I'm very pissed and angered that this is way the 2010 PGA came to an end. It was listed in many parts of the caddy and player areas of this unique rule for the week. Dustin and caddy are ultimately responsible for their actions, but WTH [sic]. I think that they need to make significant changes to the course that has hundreds of pointless bunkers that patrons have to walk through to view players

[Happy Panther]

It a wasn't as obvious to me when i saw it. I think the issue is DJ truly never even thought that this was a bunker. looks half like dirt. The patrons being so close probably hurt as well. Officials should have given more room

[Darth Biscuit]

I'll agree with that comment... they should not have bunkers that can come into play that patrons are allowed to walk thru or sit/stand in. That creates unfair conditions on the course.

[Happy Panther]

[Happy Panther]

A bunch of other pros seem to side with DJ

http://guyism.com/2010/08/professional-golfers-react-on-twitter-to-the-dustin-johnson-situation.html

[C47]

Dustin didn't read the rules PERIOD, he made a huge mental mistake and it cost him a major. It's nobody's fault but his own....

[Darth Biscuit]

It a wasn't as obvious to me when i saw it. I think the issue is DJ truly never even thought that this was a bunker. looks half like dirt. The patrons being so close probably hurt as well. Officials should have given more room

That is with the people standing on the lip of the bunker... when I first saw it on TV, it immediately looked to me like a bunker.

The rules of golf can sometimes be ticky-tacky... this one's directly on DJ however... the rules were emphasized to the players and he should know to ask a rules official if there's even a hint of a question...

[Happy Panther]

Dustin didn't read the rules PERIOD' date=' he made a huge mental mistake and it cost him a major. It's nobody's fault but his own....[/quote']

Your use of all caps is convincing but I don't agree.

[Darth Biscuit]

Your use of all caps is convincing but I don't agree.

So what don't you agree with here?

[Happy Panther]

I agree with the fact that from a rules standpoint the only option is to assess a penalty. That is the way golf works. there is rarely subjectivity and all golfers know that.

However in golf or any other aspect of life, painting over obvious issues with rules may the the easiest but not the best way. It is obvious that bunkers are ambiguous at this course.

And while DJ maybe should have known and he bears responsibility, it is possible that bunkers could get so trampled that a golfer would not even think it was a bunker. Would not even consider consulting an official.

An analogy would be your town building an extremely dangerous road for no good reason but justifying wrecks by posting a sign that says drive at your own risk.

I'm just agreeing with the pros in the link above that the setup is dumb.

Cool course otherwise

[Happy Panther]

It seems that most people agree that DJ bears ultimate responsibility but that the rule is a cop out for a poorly designed setup.

Bunch of golf guys discuss it here

http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,2010839,00.html

[Darth Biscuit]

I agree with the fact that from a rules standpoint the only option is to assess a penalty. That is the way golf works. there is rarely subjectivity and all golfers know that.

However in golf or any other aspect of life, painting over obvious issues with rules may the the easiest but not the best way. It is obvious that bunkers are ambiguous at this course.

And while DJ maybe should have known and he bears responsibility, it is possible that bunkers could get so trampled that a golfer would not even think it was a bunker. Would not even consider consulting an official.

An analogy would be your town building an extremely dangerous road for no good reason but justifying wrecks by posting a sign that says drive at your own risk.

I'm just agreeing with the pros in the link above that the setup is dumb.

Cool course otherwise

I think the mistake the PGA made was making those bunkers that were outside the ropes be 'in play', but they did cover themselves by posting that rule for the players... so there's not much DJ can say.