Dustin Johnson Gets Controversial Free Drop From Behind Tree
The former World Number One used the Rules to his advantage during the WGC-Mexico Championship final round


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.
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The former World Number One took his stance and his right foot was on the path, meaning he could drop out sidewards.
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.
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.
Whether you believe DJ's drop was correct or not, the Rules are once again a talking point this week.
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Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, X and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 and 2025 Masters from Augusta National and was there by the 18th green to watch Rory McIlroy complete the career grand slam. He has also covered five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: Titleist TSi2
Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1
Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5