2016 US Open- Oakmont

Dave Stapleton

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Add Snedeker to the crowd.

Bingo!! RT @BrandtSnedeker: Hey @USGA, it's impossible for DJ to cause the ball to move backwards!!!!!!! #commonsense
 

Average Reds

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That video gives no evidence of Johnson doing anything to cause the ball to move. And if they penalize Johnson, the USGA will have caused great damage to themselves here.
 

johnmd20

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Johnson's tee shot coming in really hot. Announcer says, "That should come back a little bit." As the ball blows off the green, never even remotely pausing.
 

TFP

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The problem is less about the penalty itself (although that's bullshit) but more about the indecision. Either make the call or don't so everyone knows where they stand. This has become a complete farce.
 

Dave Stapleton

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I mean if you're running the greens at 14 and the breeze of the practice swing causes the ball to move? As my kids would say, whatever!!
 

Byrdbrain

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I'm not a golfer but what is to say that DJ didn't indent the ground when soling and cause the ball to become unstable?
He never put the club down on the ground behind the ball, if he did then there is no question it is a penalty. If you are asking about when he took his practice strokes then it may have done so but if took a while so there was no soling of the club and then immediate movement.
This is just down to greens that are too fast and any little thing can make the ball move.
 

cshea

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The ball moved because the greens are running at like 14.5. He called the official in when it happened and the official gave him the green light. That should have been the end of it.
 

Greg29fan

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The ball moved because the greens are running at like 14.5. He called the official in when it happened and the official gave him the green light. That should have been the end of it.
If the PGA was running it, it would have been.
 

TFP

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DJ missed being on the green by about a foot right there. Love that he's going for it, he's attacking the win here.
 
FWIW, Decision 18-2/0.5 is what will likely govern the DJ decision:
18-2/0.5 Weight of Evidence Standard for Determining Whether Player Caused His Ball to Move
When a player's ball at rest moves, the cause of the ball's movement has to be assessed. In many situations, the answer will be obvious: the player may have kicked the ball inadvertently, dropped his equipment on it, or otherwise clearly caused it to move; alternatively, the player may have taken no action near the ball and something else (such as a spectator or animal) clearly caused it to move.

In other situations, however, there may be some question as to why the ball moved - e.g., because it is less than certain that the player's actions near the ball caused it to move, or because multiple factors were present that potentially might have caused the ball to move. All relevant information must be considered and the weight of the evidence must be evaluated (Decision 34-3/9). Depending on the circumstances, the relevant considerations may include, but are not limited to:
  • The nature of any actions taken near the ball (e.g., movement of loose impediments, practice swings, grounding club, taking stance, etc.),
  • Time elapsed between such actions and the movement of the ball,
  • The lie of the ball before it moved (e.g., on a closely-mown area, perched on longer grass, on a surface imperfection, etc.),
  • The conditions of the ground near the ball (e.g., degree of slope, presence of surface irregularities, etc.), and
  • Wind, rain and other weather conditions.
If the weight of evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the player caused the ball to move, even though that conclusion is not free from doubt, the player incurs a one-stroke penalty under Rule 18-2 and the ball must be replaced. Otherwise, the player incurs no penalty and the ball is played as it lies unless some other Rule applies (e.g., Rule 18-1).

With reference to the considerations above, examples of situations where the weight of the evidence would indicate that the player caused the ball to move are:
  • A player's ball lies on a flat portion of the putting green on a day with light winds. The player addresses the ball and the ball immediately moves. Under these circumstances, it is more likely than not that the act of addressing the ball caused the ball to move.
  • A player's ball lies on a tuft of grass in the rough. The player takes several practice swings near the ball, with the club coming into contact with grass in the process. Almost immediately, the ball then moves vertically down in the grass. Under these circumstances, it is more likely than not that the practice swings, in conjunction with the lie of the ball, caused the movement of the ball.
With reference to the considerations above, examples of situations where the weight of the evidence would indicate that the player did not cause the movement are:
  • On a very windy day, a player addresses the ball on the putting green. A short time later the ball moves slightly in the direction the wind is blowing. The strength and direction of the wind and the delay in the movement of the ball after the club was grounded indicate that factors other than the player are more likely than not to have caused the movement.
  • A player's ball lies on an upslope in a closely-mown area. He makes a practice swing, but does so some distance from the ball as he is concerned that the ball may move. He carefully takes his stance but does not ground his club. Prior to making his backswing for the stroke, the ball moves. As the ball did not move while the player made the practice swing or took his stance, it is more likely than not that other factors (i.e., the ball's lie on an upslope) caused the ball to move. (New)
Tl;dr version: I think the USGA may actually be making the (technically) correct decision here, even though it feels horrible to say it.
 

E5 Yaz

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Meanwhile, does Sergio hold the record for the most Top 10 finishes in majors without ever winning one?
 

Deathofthebambino

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If Westwood drops one more shot, Rob moves up to a tie for 36th. He's made a bunch of money since he finished his round.
 

TFP

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Meanwhile, does Sergio hold the record for the most Top 10 finishes in majors without ever winning one?
I think that's Westwood actually.

I quickly counted 18 major top 10s.
 

Byrdbrain

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FWIW, Decision 18-2/0.5 is what will likely govern the DJ decision:

Tl;dr version: I think the USGA may actually be making the (technically) correct decision here, even though it feels horrible to say it.
But they already ruled on it and said it was OK now they go back later and pull this crap. If they ruled from the start it was a penalty then no one would have much of an issue.
 

johnmd20

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Unless Johnson has an implosion, he's going to walk away with this. Seems like everyone around DJ collapsed after the BallGate.