On Sunday, August 15, golf fans watched an amazing finish to the last of the four major golf tournaments of the year. After 72 holes, it appeared that Dustin Johnson, after missing a short putt on the 18th green, would participate in a three-way playoff with Martin Kaymer & Bubba Watson.However, a Rules Committee official said Dustin Johnson had grounded his club (touched the sand before striking the ball) while he was in a bunker or sand trap. Johnson asserted that he had touched the ground first, but didn’t realize that the 5-by-5-foot patch of sand was indeed a bunker. The area had been walked on by thousands of spectators all week & appeared to be a patch of ground where the grass had been worn away. The sports commentators agreed with Johnson.
The Rules Committee official showed Johnson the local rules memo that had been clearly posted in the locker room. It said that all sandy areas, no matter where or of what size, would be considered bunkers. Grounding the club in such an area would result in a two-stroke penalty.Johnson had not bothered to read the local rules memo. Consequently, he was assessed a two-stroke penalty, & that caused him to miss the playoff by two strokes.Johnson, his fans, the officials & his fellow golfers all felt bad. A Rules Committee spokesman said Johnson accepted the ruling like a gentleman. Johnson showered, dressed, spoke to reporters & quickly left the clubhouse.Johnson’s experience offers several lessons job seekers also can use.Lesson No. 1: Part of the preparation for a tournament is to know not only the PGA rules but the local rules pertaining to each course. Johnson could have read the memo in a minute & would have known that any sand on the course was considered a bunker. He would not have grounded his club & he would have competed in the sudden-death playoff, had he not left out a critical detail in his preparation for the tournament.Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4939636
