Dustin Johnson; flushed on a technicality

I've now seen the Whistling Straights Dustin Johnson video replay 218 times. The TV talking heads are blabbering relentlessly. Even the pros are weighing in on this unusual golf conundrum.

But was it the right call? Well, apparently he WAS in one of the reported 1200 plus bunkers on the property. Even though it was a ragged mess from a week's worth of spectator traffic. And the sheer number of people standing around him prohibited anyone from seeing the perimeter of the bunker.

The rules official reported that he always new it was a trap. Dustin contends that it never crossed his mind. Who wins? The rules official does, that's who.

Even when I was watching it all unfold, I had this creepy suspicion that it wouldn't be long before they handed Dustin his walking papers.

"And don't let the door bang your ass on the way out!" Signed with love and affection ...the PGA rules committee.

Unfortunately, tournament officials don't have much wiggle room for rule interpretation. And they certainly didn't demonstrate any in this case.

So there you have it. Loads of PGA controversy and plenty of PR fodder. It's over.

Dustin handled himself like real pro. At least in the televised exit interviews. It wouldn't surprise me if he spun off on an angry kicking bender once he was out of the parking lot. God knows I would have! One minute he was in a playoff for the Wanamaker Trophy, for God's sake. And the next minute, it was snatched away.

I'm not too worried about Dustin Johnson though. He's proven that he's got the big game and he'll be back on the leader board soon enough.

What I don't like about this entire debacle is that we the viewers and spectators got the real shaft. Dustin played well enough to get into the playoff but got flushed on a bunker technicality. And maybe that was the right thing. But I was drooling over the thought of all three of these golf titans banging through the three hole playoff.

I wish a heartfelt congratulations to Martin Kaymer. He outlasted the field in one of the most unusual endings ever recorded. And I'm warming up to Bubba Watson. There's something wild and fearless about his approach to the game. Bubba's going to be around for a long time.

I'm certain we'll get a chance to see a Dustin vs Bubba battle in the not too distant future!