USPGA 2010

Well that was a tournament to remember, so many talking points and another European winner in what has been a purple year for European golf. Martin Kaymer moves to 5th in the World Golf Rankings and solidifying his place at the Ryder Cup after his playoff win over Bubba Watson. The playoff was level up the last before Watson got adventurous from a poor lie and found water. Kaymer played the safe option and took the honors. He didn't look overcome with emotion, rather pleased with a job well done. It is a win that should come as no surprise. Although he wasn't tipped up extensively prior to the tournament Kaymer has been in the world's top 20 since 2009, reaching a career high of 6th w/e January 24th 2010. This came after his win at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship. In 2009 he recorded back to back victories at the French & Scottish opens. In total he has had 27 top 10's including 6 European Tour victories in his career to date. His major record this year wasn't too shabby either, an 8th at the US Open and a 7th at the British Open. With all that in mind why the hell didn't I back him?
My money went elsewhere. My main bet was McIlroy on the nose and he came close to delivering. A frustrating day that seemed dominated by good par saves rather than the hot birdie streaks which he is capable. He played a peach of an approach to the last and gave himself half a chance. Unfortunately he was a bit timid with his putt and didn't play through the break. Joint third in the end, same finishing position as the Open and going in the right direction. What was impressive this week was his maturity in not letting his frustration get the better of him.
I had a couple of e/w bets on Darren Clarke, Tim Clarke & Brendon De Jonge. All made the cut but didn't make an impression on the weekend.
The main talking point however concerns the fate of Dustin Johnson. He teed off at the last with a 1 shot lead on -12. His unfortunate playing partner, Nick Watney, who had started the day with a 3 shot lead, bombed to a +10 score of 81. It was ironic that he should be playing with Johnson, a player who had suffered a similar meltdown when playing with Graeme McDowell in the final pairing of the US Open this year, finally signing for a 82 after starting the day with a 3 shot lead.
Johnson cracked his drive wide right in to the galleries. It landed on what can only be described as scrub land, with a sandy lie. Now to millions watching, myself included, there is no way that we came to the conclusion that he was in a bunker lie. That was how Johnson read it also. He therefore assumed he was safe in grounding his club before address. Wrong as it transpired....
He played his second to a valley below the green, knocked his approach on from there and missed a par putt that would have given him outright victory. As it transpired it wouldn't have mattered anyway. He knocked in his bogey and assumed he was off to sign his card before beginning a 3 way playoff with Watson & Kaymer, who both finished at -11, Kaymer by sinking a difficult par putt on 18.
Word began to filter that all wasn't right with that second on 18. Apparently his lie was deemed to be in a bunker, this despite it being trampled on all day by thousands of spectators, and he was wrong to have grounded the club. After a lengthy hearing Johnson was given a 2 stroke penalty that put him back to -9 and in a tie for 5th. A truly heartbreaking way to finish, especially after he drained a beauty of a putt on 17 to put him in the lead. To his credit he came out and gave interviews to the waiting viewers and took it on the chin.
The rules officials decreed that notices had been put up on the locker rooms that all sand areas were classified as bunkers, on a course which has hundreds. Mark Wilson of the PGA

The No. 1 item on the local rules sheet [which all players and caddies receive] was that all of the areas of the course designed as bunkers would be played as bunkers. ... Although some of those areas outside the ropes may have changed from what a tour player might expect [to see in a bunker] ... Dustin, in this position, just didn't recognize that fact.

A sad end for Johnson then but this was a tournament high on excitement and one that won't be forgotten too quickly.