Dustin Johnson Wins US Open Amid Rules Drama

It's his first major, and it wasn't easy
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jun 20, 2016 12:35 AM CDT
Dustin Johnson Wins US Open Amid Rules Drama
Dustin Johnson gets the winner's medal from Jack Nicklaus after winning the US Open golf championship at Oakmont Country Club on Sunday in Oakmont, Pa.   (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Dustin Johnson had everything going his way Sunday in the US Open. He was playing the best golf on the toughest course. He had a two-shot lead on the back nine at Oakmont. He even got a huge break on a ruling that allowed him to escape deep rough. That's when he saw two USGA officials approach him on the 12th tee. They told him he might get a one-shot penalty for his ball moving on the fifth green. They wouldn't know until after his round. Try playing the back nine of a US Open with that kind of confusion. "It's nothing new at this point," Johnson, who has had major mishaps for the last six years, tells the AP. "It's happened so many times I kind of expect it now." The difference was the outcome. Johnson showed the mettle—and yes, the wits—to finally win a major championship. "For it to not affect the outcome is fantastic," he said. "It just shows how well I played."

No one knew if he was leading, tied, or one shot behind, and neither did Johnson. He didn't look at a board the rest of the day, taking on each shot regardless of the score and coming up with all the right shots—the 10-foot par save on the 16th, a cautious bunker shot on the 17th, and a 6-iron that settled the score. It dropped down 5 feet from the hole for a birdie that wrapped up a US Open that was overdue. The USGA wound up giving him the penalty shot after it was over, so Johnson closed with a 1-under 69 for a three-shot victory over Shane Lowry, Scott Piercy, and Jim Furyk, a runner-up at Oakmont for the second straight US Open. Johnson scooped up 18-month son Tatum into his arms on Father's Day and raised the silver trophy for all to see. "I've been here a bunch of times and haven't quite got it done," Johnson said. "But today, I did. And it feels really good." (More Dustin Johnson stories.)

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