MAJOR prize
One year after the most devastating of all his close calls in the majors, Dustin Johnson took matters into his own hands at the U.S. Open Sunday at Oakmont —
Dustin Johnson had everything going his way Sunday in the U.S. Open.
He was playing the best golf on the toughest course. He had a two-shot lead on the back nine at Oakmont. He even got a huge break on a ruling that allowed him to escape deep rough, the kind of breaks that usually go to major champions.
That’s when he saw two USGA officials approach him on the 12th tee. They told him he might get a one-shot penalty for his ball moving on the fifth green. They wouldn’t know until after his round.
Try playing the back nine of a U.S. Open with that kind of confusion.
“It’s nothing new at this point,” said Johnson, who has had major mishaps for the last six years. “It’s happened so many times I kind of expect it now.” The difference was the outcome. Johnson showed the mettle — and yes, the wits — to finally win a major championship.
“For it to not affect the outcome is fantastic,” he said. “It just shows how well I played.”
No one knew if he was leading, tied or one shot behind, and neither did Johnson. He didn’t look at a board the rest of the day, taking on each shot regardless of the score and coming up with all the right shots — the 10-foot par save on the 16th, a cautious bunker shot on the 17th, and a 6-iron that settled the score. It dropped down five feet from the hole for a birdie that wrapped up a U.S. Open that was overdue.
“I have to give a lot of credit them. They’re also seeing the ball well, so it’s a lot easier to have success when your team is having success.”
Bulls second baseman Dominic Mercurio was 2for-4 with one run scored and Ray was 2-for-4 with one run scored.
Hitting leadoff, Ryan Pouwells was 2-for-5 with two runs scored.
With Sunday’s win, the Bulls are one game back of the Medicine Hat Mavericks (14-3), who have won their last three games.
The two teams clash Tuesday night when the Mavericks pay a visit to Spitz Stadium at 7 p.m.
NOTES:
In Saturday’s late-night game, Trey Faulconer went the distance for the Bulls to earn the win, giving up thre runs on eight hits and striking out three.
Handley was 2-for-3 with one run scored and one RBI, Pouwells was 2for-4 with an RBI and McGeein was 2-for-4.