USGA hopes no more embarrassments await this year

ERIN, Wis. Determined to avoid the embarrassing rules mess from a year ago, the USGA is shaking up the way it officiates the U.S. Open at Erin Hills.

It pledged to respond quicker and not wait to make a ruling.

“I think last year there were two things we fell short on — it took too long to make the ruling and it left uncertainty with the competition,” said John Bodenhamer, the USGA’s managing director of rules and competition. “I think should a similar circumstance happen, I think we are poised to move quickly.”

The U.S. Open, as well as the USGA’s other biggest events, will no longer have referees who walk with each group, a practice that dates to 1991. Instead, officials will be stationed at various spots on each hole around the course.

The biggest advancement is having four video monitor stations, along with the use of tablets, that will allow officials to review any rules discrepancies on the course to reach conclusions immediately.

That might have made it a lot easier on Dustin Johnson — and everyone else — last year at Oakmont.

Johnson’s golf ball moved slightly as he stepped in for a 3-foot par putt on the fifth hole. He didn’t think he caused it to move, called in the walking referee and no penalty was assessed. But when the USGA saw video, officials thought there might be a penalty.

They told Johnson when he was on the 12th tee, saying he might be penalized and they could review it after the round. That would have been fine except that it was the final round. Johnson played the last seven holes not knowing if he would be penalized, and thus not knowing the score.

It was a major gaffe, saved only by Johnson playing so well that he had a four-shot lead when he birdied the final hole to win the U.S. Open. After meeting with officials, he was given a one-shot penalty that affected only the margin of victory, not the name on the trophy.

The USGA has a five-member rules committee led by Thomas Pagel, the senior director of rules. Pagel will be the chief referee for the U.S. Open, who can make immediate decisions that would stand.

A repeat of the Johnson incident is unlikely this year, and not just because the greens at Erin Hills are nowhere near as fast as Oakmont’s putting surfaces. The USGA introduced a local rule last year that if a golf ball or marker moves accidentally, the player puts it back without penalty.