It’s little wonder newly-crowned World No. 1 Dustin Johnson was the very first to applaud proposed ‘ball moving’ changes to the Rules of Golf.
The R & A along with their US counterpart, the USGA have announced a wide range of ‘modernisation’ changes to the ancient club-and-ball game that will come into effect on 1st January, 2019.
Among the changes is an elimination or reduction of ‘ball moved’ penalties including no penalty for accidentally moving a ball on the putting green.
Johnson found himself the centre of a huge controversy on the final day of last year’s U.S. Open at Oakmont.
Dustin Johnson lifts the US Open trophy despite the controversy that engulfed the final round of the 2016 US Open. (Photo – USGA)
The USGA was bombarded with over 10,000 emails, text messages and phone calls when Johnson was slapped with a one-stroke penalty in being deemed that he ball moved at address on the fifth green.
And this despite Johnson calling a rules official at the time and being informed there was no penalty to be added.
Fortunately, Johnson did the USGA a huge favour in capturing a first Major by three shots, even with the penalty added after he had handed in his scorecard.
But then Padraig Harrington found himself thrown out of an Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship when ‘slowmo’ video footage had shown he had inadvertently moved his ball in replacing his ball marker.
Johnson was asked him opinion of the proposed change to the rules ahead of teeing-up in the WGC – Mexico Championship.
“The ball is on the putting green and if you don’t feel like you’ve caused it to move but then you’re still getting a penalty then that to me makes no sense,” he said.
“So, I think some of the rule changes they’ve proposed are good while they are also trying to simplify the rules so there is not so much confusion.
“The rule is that if you didn’t cause it to move there is not to be a penalty but then I still don’t understand what happened at the US Open.
“I do know now if my ball does move and I didn’t cause it to move if I am standing over a putt then there should be no penalty.”
