Dustin Johnson has ended his Major Championship victory after the bumbling behaviour of the USGA in  the handling of the final of the US Open.

Johnson carded a last round 68 to finish four shots ahead of three players in second place on one under par however Johnson was slapped with a one shot penalty well after he had putted out after USGA officials deemed his ball had moved at address on the 5th green,  and despite a rules official walking with the group indicating Johnson had not caused the ball to be moved.

However there was the sight on the 12th tee of Johnson being informed he would have to answer whether he did cause the ball to move on the 5th green to after he had completed the round.

European Ryder Cup captains, Colin Montgomerie and Paul McGinley, along the game’s best, have slammed the shameful USGA handling of the matter and effectively souring what was an exciting final round in the year’s second major.

“We need some guidance from the ruling bodies, not confusion,” said Paul McGinley.

“But he’s a huge amount of talent and played this week on the right foot.

“We haven’t heard the full story on what happened out there and the USGA have to explain why Dustin Johnson was given a one-stroke penalty. They owe it to the game.

“It was quite clear what Lee Westwood said. We heard was the referee said.  It was done and dusted on the 5th green and why did the USGA get involved.  Why did they get involved and why did it take another seven holed to bring it to his notice.

“Clarity and clearness was needed and it wasn’t know.  Dustin and everyone needed to needed know where they stood.  There was not clarity and too much confusion and the game of golf did not deserve it.”

New US Open winner Dustin Johnson talking with a rules official on the 5th green.

Johnson was preparing to hit a putt on the fifth green when the ball moved. He backed away and summoned a rules official. Johnson informed him that he had done nothing to cause it to move, no penalty was assessed, and the matter appeared settled.

“It’s something they said they would look at when we were done,” he said.

“So, I just tried to put in behind me and all I could focus on was getting into the house, and to finish the way I did well that has to be the best shot I’ve hit.”

Then on the 12th tee, USGA officials informed Johnson that they would re-assess the situation after the round, creating a situation where he, and his closest competitors, could not be sure where they stood in pursuit of a U.S. Open championship.

Johnson, 31, came into the final round trailing Lowry by four shots, but erased the deficit and took the lead with a birdie at nine, followed by a Lowry bogey. For most of the back nine, his lead was two, giving him a cushion in the event the USGA decided to rule against him. By the time he reached the 18th hole, his lead was three.

The victory ended a skein of close calls for Johnson, 31, who finished T4 and T2 in the last two U.S. Opens, T6 and T4 in the last two Masters, and T7 in last year’s PGA Championship. He also has a T2 in the British Open.

“So I just tried to hit golf shots, tried to hit it on the correct side of the hole and two-putt,” he said.

“I hit two great shots on 18. It (his approach) might be one of the best shots I ever hit. So that was very nice to have a short putt like that to get it in the house.

“It feels good. Feels really good. Feels well deserved. I’ve had a lot of opportunities that I didn’t quite get it done. So this one’s definitely really sweet.”

Johnson was greeted on the 18th green by wife Paulina and son Tatum and added: “It means the world. It’s Father’s Day. My birthday’s in a couple of days (he turns 32 on Wednesday). Couldn’t have come at a better time.”

Defending champion Jordan Spieth, meanwhile, closed with a five-over par 75 and finished tied for 37th.