Dustin Johnson was knocked out of the playoff at the PGA championship at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin after grounding his club in a bunker on the 18th hole of the final round.
Johnson, 26, was unaware that the bunker existed. David Price, a rules official, confronted Johnson about the shot. Johnson and Nick Watney along with officials went into the scoring trailer and watched replays of the shot.
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He was given a two stroke penalty, which left him in fifth place with a score or 73. His score prior to the penalty would have left Johnson with a 71 and in the running to play a three-hole playoff against Martin Kaymer and Bubba Watson.
Grounding occurs when the club touches the ground before a swing. It is permitted on the fairways, tee and rough, however is unacceptable if it occurs in a bunker. Whistling Straits is filled with sand traps that even fool a professional. There are more than 1,200 small sandy spots on the course.
This was not Johnson’s first disappointment. At the U.S Open he was the third round-leader, however he would finish with an 82 and was considered to have the highest score in the U.S. Open since 1911.