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Mike Davis: “The USGA Wants a Mulligan”

Amid all the controversy and backlash about the Dustin Johnson rules kerfuffle Mike Davis, the Executive Director/CEO of the USGA has made a request: The USGA wants a mulligan. Ironic isn’t it.

The USGA released a statement earlier in the day, standing by the rules decision, that Johnson caused the ball to move but apologizing for the distraction they caused on the twelfth tee. Later, Davis was a call in quest on the Golf Channel’s Golf Central. Consider this calling out the big guns.mike davis

Davis, stood by his rules committee but recognized that the way it was handled was terrible.

When you look back at the whole issue, you can break it down into two parts. It’s a rules of golf issue, of trying to make sure that you apply the rules correctly the way they’re written. And we do believe we did that.  But there’s another part of it in terms of the conduct of the championship itself, and that’s where we’d really like a mulligan because clearly we made a big bogey.

There are two arguments here. First the rule, the USGA loves its rules and obviously likes to enforce them. Secondly was the administration and application of the rule. And I think they blew it there, as does Davis.

That really gets down to putting in essence the championship on the final day almost in limbo to where the players, and in this case Dustin, didn’t know where he stood in terms of a score.  That’s where, if we could do it again, we should have just applied the penalty once we looked at the video.

In this case, what it was was a timing issue. The championship deserved to have clarity at that time, and simply put, we didn’t provide that clarity. We strongly believe we got the ruling right, we just didn’t apply it in the proper timing and sequence. And that’s where, as I say, I think we bogeyed, and for that we truly regret and furthermore apologize for the way that was handled.

For many observers the rule wasn’t violated. For many more it’s a worthless rule. But the mishandling of the entire issue is what caused Johnson, Fox Sports, the players and the fans to be outraged and confused at the entire fiasco.

Davis took some flak for not speaking out earlier and letting his cronies take the heat. And maybe, after listening to him he just wanted the responsible parties to face the music.

I just hope that they examine their procedures and if there’s a penalty just assess it on the spot.

Davis went on to say how gracious Johnson was throughout the entire debacle. And that’s another case where the USGA got lucky. First of all the penalty didn’t figure into the outcome and secondly there are plenty of other golfers that wouldn’t have taken it so well.

Cheers to DJ for winning despite the buffoonery from the USGA and Mike Davis needs to go spank some boys in the blue jackets.

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One Comment

  1. How many years in a row can Mike Davis apologize about the Open site, set-up or rulings before the USGA brings in someone compitant?

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