Johnson overcomes bizarre ruling to capture 1st career major at U.S. Open

155 golfers, one of the world's most difficult golf courses, and the absurdity of the USGA couldn't stop Dustin Johnson from becoming a major champion.

The long-hitting 32-year-old continued his week-long ball-striking assault on Oakmont Country Club Sunday, firing a 1-under 69 to win the 116th U.S. Open by three strokes over Jim Furyk, Scott Piercy, and Shane Lowry.

Johnson's final round presented one of the most bizarre scenes on a golf course, thanks to a penalty fiasco orchestrated by the USGA.

As his club hovered behind his ball prior to putting on the fifth hole, the ball moved ever so slightly. Johnson called in a rules official to confirm he had done nothing wrong, and play continued.

The 10-time PGA winner continued his round, firing laser after laser at flag sticks, building up a two-stroke lead in the process. All was going according to plan until the USGA reemerged on the 12th tee to inform Johnson his incident on the 5th hole was to be reviewed after the round. If it was decided his practice stroke had caused the ball to move, he would be slapped with a one-stroke penalty.

This left the entire field, the broadcasters, and the viewing public in the dark as to what Johnson's exact score was. That left the tournament in question, and the governing body was appropriately ripped by fellow tour professionals on Twitter.

Three straight bogeys by his closest pursuer Lowry gave Johnson a three-stroke lead, we thought, heading to 18, and after a majestic 6-iron left him a five-footer for birdie, the tournament was his. The South Carolinian calmly rolled in the putt to leave no doubt, penalty or not, that he was the U.S. Open champion.

The USGA eventually ruled after the round that Johnson had forced his ball to move, and assessed the one-stroke penalty, cutting his margin of victory from four to three.

Leaderboard

Notables

Jim Furyk, who was also runner-up at Oakmont in 2007, put together the low round of the day with a sparkling 66 to finish in second place. His four-round total of 1-under matched Scott Piercy and Lowry. The latter struggled to a 76 in the final round, 11 strokes worse than his third-round 65.

Sergio Garcia was yet again in the picture of a major on a Sunday, yet failed to string together enough birdies to make a true charge, finishing with an even-par 70 to sit level for the tournament.

Jason Day made a late move on Sunday, chipping in for eagle on the par-5 12th, and followed that up with a birdie on 13. Unfortunately for the world's top-ranked player, he would finish double-bogey, bogey to end at 2-over for the championship.

It was a difficult final day for the defending champion, as Jordan Spieth hit just three fairways on his way to a 5-over 75.

Tweets of the day

Rory McIlroy, who missed the cut by a stroke, was perhaps the most outspoken golfer about the USGA's handling of the penalty situation.

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