McIlroy Escapes A Dustin Johnson ‘Oakmont’ Like Penalty Nightmare At Barclays.

Bethpage Park, NY …. Four time Major winning Rory McIlroy avoided a Dustin Johnson U.S. Open-like rules scare at the fourth or 12th hole of his round of a level par 71.

McIlroy lightly grounded his new Scotty Cameron putter behind his ball but then moments after taking away the putter his ball moved albeit very slightly.

“I addressed my ball, so I put my putter behind it, but with the wind, that’s a very exposed green,” said McIlroy.

“And with these poa greens, as well, sort of what happened to Dustin at the U.S. Open, as well, any tiny bit of movement, whether it’s wind or even pressure of your feet — not really making the ball move but told the ref what happened, and he said with the wind and everything, I don’t think you caused the ball to move.

“So I just played it from where it was.”

A PGA Tour rules official speaks with McIlroy during today's opening round of the Barclays Championship.  (Photo - www.pgatour.com)

A PGA Tour rules official speaks with McIlroy during today’s opening round of the Barclays Championship. (Photo – www.pgatour.com)

McIlroy’s playing partner Daniel Summerhays could be heard saying: “The USGA messed the whole thing up,” and referring to the U.S. Open controversy involving Johnson.

And while McIlroy was not ruled to have breached the rules, he still had to survive the difficult conditions including managing to hit 6-of-14 fairways and then finding 13-of-18 greens in regulation.

“I think everyone saw it was difficult conditions out there,” he said. “I hit the ball pretty well from tee to green. I think anything under par today in the afternoon is a good score. I have to get back out there tomorrow in better conditions with the greens a little bit better and try to do something.”

Later he added, “I felt like even par was a fair reflection of how I played.”



Comments are closed.