The former World Number One used the Rules to his advantage during the WGC-Mexico Championship final round
Dustin Johnson Gets Controversial Free Drop From Behind Tree
Dustin Johnson used the Rules to his advantage during the final round of the WGC-Mexico Championship, where he managed to get a free drop from up against a tree.
DJ hit an iron off the tee on the 5th hole and his ball rolled off down the right of the fairway, finishing behind a tree.
Rory McIlroy was chasing him and within three strokes, looking likely to claw one back with his American rival snookered.
Johnson was going to have to chip out backwards from behind the tree, although a fortuitous ruling saved him.
DJ was allowed to get a free drop out to the left due to his stance being impeded by a path.
The former World Number One took his stance and his right foot was on the path, meaning he could drop out sidewards.
Dustin Johnson got relief. Made par.
Rory did not. He’s about to make a BIG number.
Both should’ve had to play the ball where it was.@WGCMexico and their rules officials screwed this up, badly. pic.twitter.com/uHt3e29zWn
— Jonathan Shuskey (@j_shuskey1) February 24, 2019
He was left with a tricky shot, requiring a low fade and he pulled it off to perfection, finding the green and leaving himself some 30 feet for birdie.
He would go on to two-putt for par.
On the very next hole, Rory McIlroy then found himself behind a tree as well.
He called in a referee and, like DJ, was claiming that his foot would be on the path when playing the shot.
He was declined a free drop and played out sidewards left-handed, eventually bogeying the par-5 after his third shot found the water.
One left-handed shot.
One shot in the water.A bogey for Rory McIlroy.
He's in 2nd place, but now 5 back. pic.twitter.com/CPBfxFc5PC
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 24, 2019
Dustin Johnson’s drop caused controversy with commentators and on social media, with some believing that the original stance he took wasn’t actually the stance he would use to play the shot and was instead a stance to use the Rules to his advantage.
Dustin Johnson has just received about the most outrageous break I've ever seen on a golf course.
— Ewan Murray (@mrewanmurray) February 24, 2019
Whether you believe DJ’s drop was correct or not, the Rules are once again a talking point this week.
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