Confusion reigned in the final round of the U.S. Open, as the USGA made Dustin Johnson wait until he finished playing before deciding whether or not to penalize him one stroke for his ball moving on the 5th green. Johnson played much of the final round unsure of where he stood on the leaderboard.
Many of Johnson's colleagues on the tour were upset at how the USGA handled the situation, venting their frustration on social media as the action unfolded.
This is ridiculous... No penalty whatsoever for DJ. Let the guy play without this crap in his head. Amateur hour from @USGA
— Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory) June 19, 2016
This isn't right for anyone on that golf course. If it was me I wouldn't hit another shot until this farce was rectified.
— Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory) June 19, 2016
Lemme get this straight.. DJ doesn't address it. It's ruled that he didn't cause it to move. Now you tell him he may have? Now? This a joke?
— Jordan Spieth (@JordanSpieth) June 19, 2016
.@JordanSpieth @McIlroyRory w/ you boys! The fact that the @usga thinks that DJ caused the ball to move is completely ridiculous! Laughable!
— Rickie Fowler (@RickieFowler) June 19, 2016
Have you seen how much these putts are breaking @usga, the green speed and slope caused the ball to move. #moveon
— Luke Donald (@LukeDonald) June 19, 2016
No way DJ gets a penalty. Use some common sense @usga The greens are running 14 and are sloppier than Mount Everest
— Luke Donald (@LukeDonald) June 19, 2016
@USGA treatment of @DJohnsonPGA absolutely shocking. No way he made the ball move.
— Ernie Els (@TheBig_Easy) June 19, 2016
These are the guys who make our rules? #scary
— Keegan Bradley (@Keegan_Bradley) June 19, 2016
The @USGA are creating an incredibly anti-climatic scenario here during what should be an incredibly dramatic back nine on Sunday. Sort it.
— Graeme McDowell (@Graeme_McDowell) June 19, 2016
This is bad @USGA! Let Dustin play without this in his head. It's up to him whether or not he made the ball move. Come on!!
— Hudson Swafford (@Hud_swafford) June 19, 2016
Starting to think I may have a chance of a playoff at +8 if these rulings keep up #stayingpositive
— Justin Thomas (@JustinThomas34) June 19, 2016
Is Dustin leading? Tied with Shane? USGA please, do your job properly... @usopengolf sunday deserves a quick decision...
— Pablo Larrazabal (@plarrazabal) June 19, 2016
Ok USGA I have an idea. If you find one player/caddie in the field that thinks DJ deserves the penalty. Then give it. #wontfindone
— Aron Price (@aronpricePGA) June 19, 2016
The guy is trying to win a US Open. And you mess with his head like this. Standard stuff from the @USGA. #terrible
— John Peterson (@JohnPetersonLSU) June 19, 2016
Johnson was indeed assessed a penalty stroke after the round, but he had built up such a large lead that it didn't prevent him from claiming his first major title. The reaction from his colleagues after the round was a combination of congratulations for Johnson and disgust over the decision to give him a penalty.
Take that @usga
— Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory) June 19, 2016
Some great golf by @DJohnsonPGA all week, strong way to finish overcoming that rules farce. Happy Father's Day to DJ and all of you.
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) June 20, 2016
Congrats @DJohnsonPGA .. You earned it buddy
— Jordan Spieth (@JordanSpieth) June 20, 2016
DJ!!! @DJohnsonPGA you are the man...that was impressive!!!
— Rickie Fowler (@RickieFowler) June 20, 2016
Wow @usga...WOW!!
— Rickie Fowler (@RickieFowler) June 20, 2016
Congrats @DJohnsonPGA deserved @usopengolf champion - especially after all the mayhem
— Ernie Els (@TheBig_Easy) June 20, 2016
The other Johnson, Dustin...you are really good at golf. Wow. Congrats bro!
— Zach Johnson (@ZachJohnsonPGA) June 20, 2016
DJ should pull a Faldo and thank the @usga from the heart of his bottom
— Luke Donald (@LukeDonald) June 20, 2016
Gutted for @ShaneLowryGolf but has a couple of Majors in him. Congrats to @DJohnsonPGA. Simply the most talented athlete ever to play golf.
— Graeme McDowell (@Graeme_McDowell) June 20, 2016
Couldn't be happier for @DJohnsonPGA. Saved his best when it counted the most
— Paul Goydos (@PaulGoydosPGA) June 20, 2016
Tricky thing for the USGA is that you can't hold yourself out as an honor game and not accept a guy's word. This is tough.
— Ben Crane (@bencranegolf) June 19, 2016
Telling a golfer mid-round(!) about a potential 1 shot penalty would cost most about 4 shots in anxiety. Not for @DJohnsonPGA. Huge congrats
— Webb Simpson (@webbsimpson1) June 20, 2016
