Dustin Johnson wins US Open despite USGA

US Open final leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/us-open/leaderboard.html

You can cross DJ off the list of the best players in golf who haven't won a major.

as he finished this disjointed US Open at Oakmont -4 after a 69, three clear of Ireland's Shane Lowry who lost his putting touch and a 4 shot lead, slumping to 76, Jim Furyk and Scott Piercy.

As always with Dustin Johnson it didn't come without controversy.

Johnson who struck the ball better than everyone all week, had a 4 foot putt for par on the fifth hole and after he took a few practice strokes he put the putter behind the ball and it looked like it may have moved slightly. He called over the rules official, told him it didn’t move and he tapped in for par after the official told him to play on.
 

Then on the 12th hole, in the middle of the US Open he was informed by the USGA they had questions about whether the ball did move or not, in fact they told him he would likely get a one shot penalty.

"After looking at video, the actions he took could have caused the ball to move,” said Jeff Hall, director of rules and open championships for the USGA. “We asked if there was some other reason the ball could have moved. He didn’t state a reason.”
 

After a hailstorm of criticism on social media by nearly all the top players, the USGA said afterwards they wanted him to know that a one-shot penalty was likely so he could play accordingly, but it led to confusion especially when Shane Lowry thought he had caught him when Johnson made his only bogey on the back nine.
 

Johnson with his usual easy going style continued to play superbly including a stunning drive and approach to 10 feet at the final hole for birdie and even with the one stroke penalty he finished at -4 276 to wipe away the memories of last year at Chambers Bay and his other so close finishes.
 

Lowry, the first player since Payne Stewart in 1998 to lose a four-shot lead in the final round of the U.S. Open, lost his putting touch that had given him the lowest 54-hole total at Oakmont. He three-putted from long range on three straight holes to end his brilliant run, while Lee Westwood had one of the worst front nines of his pro career shooting 43 on the way to a +10, 80.

I expect this enormously talented young guy to go on now and win several more majors. He has the monkey off his back, seems well grounded with Pauline, his son and the rest of with the Gretzky clan right in his corner.

Now it's up to Sergio, and Lee and Rickie to step up and join him...

What a crazy week, what a deserving winner.

Bryan Angus