OAKMONT, Pa. (AP) — Dustin Johnson had everything going his way Sunday in the U.S. 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, the kind of breaks that usually go to major champions.
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 U.S. Open with that kind of confusion.
“It’s nothing new at this point,” said Johnson, who has had major mishaps for the last six years. “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 —…
