Gipper, I was thinking of the same analogy. "Hey guys, what's the score? We don't know!!! The refs won't tell us"😬
USGA Statement Regarding Dustin Johnson Ruling The USGA wishes to congratulate Dustin Johnson on his victory and thank him, and the other players in the field, for their professionalism and grace throughout the championship. Dustin is a wonderful champion, a talented golfer and a gentleman. Our team at the USGA has seen and heard a great deal of discussion and debate about the ruling on Dustin's ball moving during the final round of the 2016 U.S. Open Championship at Oakmont Country Club. In addition to the explanations we offered upon the conclusion of the final round, we add these comments. Upon reflection, we regret the distraction caused by our decision to wait until the end of the round to decide on the ruling. It is normal for rulings based on video evidence to await the end of a round, when the matter can be discussed with the player before the score card is returned. While our focus on getting the ruling correct was appropriate, we created uncertainty about where players stood on the leader board after we informed Dustin on the 12th tee that his actions on the fifth green might lead to a penalty. This created unnecessary ambiguity for Dustin and the other players, as well as spectators on-site, and those watching and listening on television and digital channels. During any competition, the priority for Rules officials is to make the correct ruling for the protection of the player(s) involved and the entire field. In applying Rule 18-2, which deals with a ball at rest that moves, officials consider all the relevant evidence - including the player's actions, the time between those actions and the movement of the ball, the lie of the ball, and course and weather conditions. If that evidence, considered together, shows that it is more likely than not that the player's actions caused the ball to move, the player incurs a one-stroke penalty. Officials use this "more likely than not" standard because it is not always apparent what caused the ball to move. Such situations require a review of the evidence, with Decision 18-2/0.5 providing guidance on how the evidence should be weighed. Our officials reviewed the video of Dustin on the fifth green and determined that based on the weight of the evidence, it was more likely than not that Dustin caused his ball to move. Dustin's putter contacted the ground at the side of the ball, and almost immediately after, the ball moved We accept that not everyone will agree that Dustin caused his ball to move. Issues under Rule 18-2 often require a judgment where there is some uncertainty, and this was one of those instances. We also understand that some people may disagree with Rule 18-2 itself. While we respect the viewpoints of those who disagree, our Committee made a careful and collective judgment in its pursuit of a fair competition played under the Rules of Golf. In keeping with our commitment to excellence in all aspects of our work on behalf of the game of golf, we pledge to closely examine our procedures in this matter. We will assess our procedures for handling video review, the timing of such, and our communication with players to make sure that when confronted with such a situation again, we will have a better process. We at the USGA deeply appreciate the support of players, fans, and the entire golf community of our championships and our other work for golf - and we appreciate your feedback as well. We have established an email address (comments@usga.org) and phone mailbox (908-326-1857) to receive comments. We thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. We all share an abiding love of this great game. Let us continue to work together for its good.
********. The ball didn't "almost immediately" move after he put his putter down. He then moved the putter behind the ball and at that point the ball moved. Why do these assholes bother to have rules officials with the group is they're going to overrule them later? If he made the ball move than he was required to replace the ball where it was. He didn't. Why, because the traveling official ruled he wasn't at fault and didn't have to replace it. So because he didn't replace it isn't that another penalty? Now that we've gotten the real score, today let's disqualify him for signing an incorrect score card. And in the spirit of the Tour D'France, let's retest his drug test a decade from now. Maybe we can take away his title for drugging too.
That rule need more refining, as we all know golf has a lot of stupid rules. But this, while changed recently to allow for wind or outside forces to move the ball with no penalty. They still need to make it so if you ground your club beside the ball, behind the ball, in front of the ball, anywhere but on the ball and it moves you just replace it with no penalty. No advantage is gained when the ball moves like it did on Dustin or even Lowry the day before when he called one on himself. Just like if you take a practice swing on the tee box and your ball falls off the tee you just put it back and no penalty even if you 110mph swing generated a vacuum around the ball and that's why it fell off.
The aftermath: http://www.aol.com/article/2016/06/...re-for-shot-of-paulina-gretzkys-dre/21399361/ The article I read following the tournament referred to her as his fiance, so Terry, you still have a chance.
I guess that's the new norm, have a kid and then some time in the future get married. But I don't feel too bad for her, if you've seen some of the photo's she posts of herself on Instagram and Snapchat you'd realize she's kind of an exhibitionist. So I'll give the Camera crew's a pass on this one.