Dustin Johnson unfazed by penalty en route to US Open win
Last Updated: 20/06/16 9:24am
Dustin Johnson said he just went about his business rather than fret about being hit with a one-shot penalty en route to victory at the US Open.
Johnson arrived at the tournament having finished in the top 10 at major championships on 11 occasions without winning any of them, and with a few hard luck stories along the way.
At the 2010 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, he was penalised a shot on the final hole for grounding his club in a hazard, missing a spot in a play-off.
I feel lighter. For me to finally get it done on Sunday in a major, it's a huge monkey off my back.
US Open champion Dustin Johnson
Johnson had led the US Open that year at Pebble Beach through 54 holes but ultimately finished eighth.
And last year, he three-putted the 72nd hole at Chambers Bay to hand Jordan Spieth the US Open crown.
All week Johnson insisted he'd moved on from Chambers Bay, that last year's disappointment and the ones that came before didn't haunt him.
But in the glow of a memorable victory, wrested from third-round leader Shane Lowry and earned in the shadow of another rules controversy, the normally laconic Johnson let his emotions show.
"I feel lighter," Johnson said. "I've been in this situation time and time again. For me to finally get it done on Sunday in a major, it's a huge monkey off my back.
"After last year, to come back this year and perform like this - I think it shows what kind of golfer I am."
After his experience at Whistling Straits, where he grounded his club in a pebbly patch of sand that he thought was a waste area rather than a bunker, he had to face another rules controversy on Sunday.
Johnson was up by just one when he learned US Golf Association officials were reconsidering a ruling at the fifth green, and he could be penalised a shot for causing his ball to move as he prepared to putt.
"I felt like I wasn't going to be penalised, so I just went about my business," Johnson said.
When he was eventually punished, Johnson had built a big enough lead to make the point moot.
"I'm glad it didn't matter. That would have been bad," Johnson said.
Instead, Johnson finally got his magic major moment at the 72nd hole, splitting the fairway with his drive, and following with a fine approach to set up just the second birdie of the day at the 18th.
"It was a very nice way to finish. Maybe one of the best shots I ever hit, especially under the circumstances," he said of his six-iron into the green.
"I was very happy to see I had a little three-footer to finish."
