Opinion & Analysis
3 reasons why Dustin Johnson’s major collapse was worse than Van De Velde’s
After more than a decade and a half of agony, he’s finally off the hook. Jean Van De Velde’s 1999 Open Championship debacle at Carnoustie is no longer the biggest final-hole collapse in major championship history. That dubious distinction belongs to Dustin Johnson.
Yes, I know the Frenchman was three shots ahead standing on the final tee. Yes, I know Johnson was one shot behind on his last hole. It doesn’t matter.
Here’s why.
The Players
Coming into the 1999 Open Championship, Van De Velde was a decent player, but not a world-beater by any stretch, with just one European Tour win to date, more than six years prior to that fateful week. In four past Open Championships, his best finish was a tie for 34th. In other words, he was in completely uncharted territory. He had come out of nowhere to build a three-shot lead through 71 holes at Carnoustie.
Dustin Johnson came into this past week ranked seventh in the world. A proven winner, he was on the verge of making the U.S. Open his first major but his tenth PGA Tour victory—a slate that includes two World Golf Championships and two FedEx Cup Playoffs events. He is one of the elite talents in the game, so much so that whenever he is in contention, golf analysts gush about his athleticism, prodigious length off the tee and the relative ease with which he pulls off shots that many of his competitors simply cannot hit. Furthermore, he had real chances to win three prior majors, and players who keep knocking at the door tend to eventually burst through.
The Hole
Comparing the 18th hole at Carnoustie to its counterpart at Chambers Bay is a fool’s errand. The winding Barry Burn lurks off the tee and on the approach at the former. Nasty pot bunkers guard both sides of the narrow green. Disaster awaits anything less than two spectacular shots. It is perhaps the hardest hole on one of the hardest golf courses in the world.
Chambers Bay’s finisher, by contrast, is a birdie hole, complete with a green whose rear slope helped to funnel balls (including Johnson’s) close to the cup all day. Numerous players who hit tee shots into the left- or right-hand fairway bunkers found ways to make birdies on the hole. It was the second-easiest hole yesterday, and with his enormous tee shot and 253-yard 5-iron to 12 feet, setting up the presumptive winning eagle putt, Dustin Johnson had it figured out.
The Moment
To be sure, Van De Velde hacked it around Carnoustie’s 18th, making multiple mental and physical mistakes. But after pulling driver on the tee against everyone’s better judgment, and after rolling up his pants to contemplate trying to blast his ball out of Barry Burn before dropping, he found himself standing over a putt of about seven feet to force a playoff with Paul Lawrie and Justin Leonard. And he drained it.
Johnson, after the aforementioned two prodigious blows up Chambers Bay’s final hole, faced a putt of less than 13 feet. It was a slick downhiller, certainly, but after having the luxury of watching Jason Day putt along a similar line, he had no reason not to understand the swiftness of his eagle putt. And as bumpy as Chambers Bay’s greens had been all week, he had to know that giving that first putt a little extra speed would be unlikely to help keep it on line. But with all that information, he hit that putt hard enough to leave an uncomfortable putt over an inconsistent surface on a day when he had already missed numerous short-range putts. And missed. A 15-handicapper in a dollar-Nassau match against his or her buddies would know better than to risk entering that situation. For the No. 7-ranked golfer in the world, it’s utterly inexcusable and incomprehensible.
In 1999, Jean Van De Velde had a three-shot lead, but he was in uncharted territory on one of golf’s most fearsome holes. Dustin Johnson had to cover 13 feet in two putts to buy himself 18 more holes of one-on-one golf against Jordan Spieth, and he couldn’t manage it. That’s a bigger surprise – no doubt about it.
Club Junkie
Tour Edge Exotics mini driver review + TaylorMade Spider ZT Max first look – Club Junkie
On this episode of Club Junkie, I put the new Tour Edge Exotics Mini Driver to the test and break down the performance, forgiveness, distance, and where it fits compared to a traditional driver or strong fairway wood. If you have been curious about adding a mini driver to the bag, this one is worth a look.
I also dive into the new TaylorMade Spider ZT Max putter that was recently spotted and discuss the growing zero torque putter trend. Plus, there is a closer look at the new Project X Titan Yellow shaft showing up on the PGA Tour and what makes it different from other profiles currently out there.
Opinion & Analysis
AVL: We’re talking about practice! My best tips for taking your game to the course
With the beginning of June on the horizon and courses rounding into peak condition for the season, it’s time to hone the finer skills that often get rusty over the winter. More sunlight also means more time to get out on the course and work on your game.
Whether it’s the practice green or the driving range, there’s always something to improve—whether you’re enjoying the fresh air or preparing for a weekend game or tournament. You can work on drills or freestyle around the green, and friendly competition is a great way to sharpen your skills.
While there are endless ways to get better at golf, I’m going to focus on practicing around the green. Let’s take a look at a few things to keep in mind as we head into the summer months.
Drills
From the driving range to the practice green, it’s important to incorporate drills into your routine. Years ago, I spent a weekend working on my short game with James Sieckmann. He recommended doing drill work for 5–10 minutes, then returning to your main practice.
This way, you create a balance between structured drills and real-world scenarios, so you’re not confined to “perfect” situations. For example, hitting the same three-foot putt over and over is good for repetition, but after a while, it becomes less interactive for your brain.
My approach is to use a putting trainer with a narrow gate for the ball to pass through, or simply place tees just outside the width of the ball. I’ll hit a series of four putts through the gate for three sets. Then, from a similar distance, I’ll hit four putts without the training aid and repeat that sequence three times.
Next, I’ll hit a number of 15–25 foot putts in a random fashion, then circle back to repeat the short putt drills with and without the training aid.
This breaks up the rhythm of hitting short putts with the training aid. When you hit the same short putts over and over, it’s easy to get into a groove—which is great for the drill, but not reflective of actual course play. While finding a rhythm is fundamental for drills, I like to introduce variation with longer putts to keep things realistic.
Game Mode
Once you’ve established a foundation with drills, it’s time to simulate on-course scenarios. This is where a few practice games come in handy.
One that I’ve been enjoying lately involves putting 10- to 15-footers with two balls. If I make the putt, great! If I miss, I pull the missed ball back a putter length. Suddenly, that little tap-in becomes a nerve-wracking three-footer—at least at first. As you get better at this game, those three- and five-footers become much more comfortable and routine.
It may sound cliché, but each shot is just what it is—it’s how we react that makes the difference. I like this game because it blends the pressure of on-course putting with the consequence of leaving yourself a much longer putt than usual.
Another game I like is one I recently learned from Brad Faxon. Place three tees in a line at four different locations around the hole: one at 3 feet, one at 6 feet, and one at 8 feet. The 3- and 6-foot putts count as par, and the 8-footer is for birdie.
This game keeps you focused on scoring and helps you get into a competitive mindset. You can even think about this putting game while you’re on the course. I just started playing it, and last week I couldn’t get better than two under par.
Competition
Competition during practice is when drills and games come to life, and you start to see results. For me, nothing beats a putting contest with a friend or two. In the right setting, these contests can become talking points for the whole season.
Match play, a game of 21, or simply seeing who can make the most one-putts (with a small prize on the line) are all great ways to simulate real on-course pressure. Recently, I played in a putting contest where one competitor made back-to-back 30- and 50-foot putts. As they say, expect your opponent to make every putt—and he nearly did. That’s impressive, and it’s something you see on the course, too: you have to stay committed to your game plan, no matter what.
When it comes to practice, it’s important to blend feedback from recent rounds with the fundamentals you want to reinforce. Drills, games, and competition—from the driving range to the putting green—form the backbone of skills you’ll rely on during actual rounds.
Finding the right balance is something we’re all working on, one practice session at a time. With the beginning of June on the horizon and courses rounding into peak condition for the season, it’s time to hone the finer skills that often get rusty over the winter. More sunlight also means more time to get out on the course and work on your game. Whether it’s the practice green or the driving range, there’s always something to improve—whether you’re enjoying the fresh air or preparing for a weekend game or tournament. You can work on drills or freestyle around the green, and friendly competition is a great way to sharpen your skills. While there are endless ways to get better at golf, I’m going to focus on practicing around the green. Let’s take a look at a few things to keep in mind as we head into the summer months.
Drills
From the driving range to the practice green, it’s important to incorporate drills into your routine. Years ago, I spent a weekend working on my short game with James Sieckmann. He recommended doing drill work for 5–10 minutes, then returning to your main practice. This way, you create a balance between structured drills and real-world scenarios, so you’re not confined to “perfect” situations. For example, hitting the same three-foot putt over and over is good for repetition, but after a while, it becomes less interactive for your brain.
My approach is to use a putting trainer with a narrow gate for the ball to pass through, or simply place tees just outside the width of the ball. I’ll hit a series of four putts through the gate for three sets. Then, from a similar distance, I’ll hit four putts without the training aid and repeat that sequence three times. Next, I’ll hit a number of 15–25 foot putts in a random fashion, then circle back to repeat the short putt drills with and without the training aid.
This breaks up the rhythm of hitting short putts with the training aid. When you hit the same short putts over and over, it’s easy to get into a groove—which is great for the drill, but not reflective of actual course play. While finding a rhythm is fundamental for drills, I like to introduce variation with longer putts to keep things realistic.
Game Mode
Once you’ve established a foundation with drills, it’s time to simulate on-course scenarios. This is where a few practice games come in handy. One that I’ve been enjoying lately involves putting 10- to 15-footers with two balls. If I make the putt, great! If I miss, I pull the missed ball back a putter length.
Suddenly, that little tap-in becomes a nerve-wracking three-footer—at least at first. As you get better at this game, those three- and five-footers become much more comfortable and routine. It may sound cliché, but each shot is just what it is—it’s how we react that makes the difference. I like this game because it blends the pressure of on-course putting with the consequence of leaving yourself a much longer putt than usual.
Another game I like is one I recently learned from Brad Faxon. Place three tees in a line at four different locations around the hole: one at 3 feet, one at 6 feet, and one at 8 feet. The 3- and 6-foot putts count as par, and the 8-footer is for birdie.
This game keeps you focused on scoring and helps you get into a competitive mindset. You can even think about this putting game while you’re on the course. I just started playing it, and last week I couldn’t get better than two under par.
Competition
Competition during practice is when drills and games come to life, and you start to see results. For me, nothing beats a putting contest with a friend or two. In the right setting, these contests can become talking points for the whole season. Match play, a game of 21, or simply seeing who can make the most one-putts (with a small prize on the line) are all great ways to simulate real on-course pressure. Recently, I played in a putting contest where one competitor made back-to-back 30- and 50-foot putts. As they say, expect your opponent to make every putt—and he nearly did. That’s impressive, and it’s something you see on the course, too: you have to stay committed to your game plan, no matter what.
When it comes to practice, it’s important to blend feedback from recent rounds with the fundamentals you want to reinforce. Drills, games, and competition—from the driving range to the putting green—form the backbone of skills you’ll rely on during actual rounds. Finding the right balance is something we’re all working on, one practice session at a time.
For Korean golfers, we always look forward to the last of the kkot-saem-chu-I for the true start of a new golf season. The term refers to a cold snap, but literally translates as “winter being jealous of the flowers beginning to bloom, thus lashing out one final time before surrendering to spring”.
A rather poetic mouthful packed into a short expression.
Koreans can be like that. Understated, yet oddly expressive at the same time. And nowhere is this more true on the golf course and in our golf bags. In fact, I suspect many Korean golfers look forward to new apparel and accessory drops more than they do actual equipment launches each year.
At this point, Korean golf fashion may exist on its own timeline. (courtesy of @seonbi_golfer)
There is ample evidence to support that suspicion. Korea is the world’s third-largest golf market behind the United States and Japan, yet its appetite for golf apparel exceeds that of both countries combined. Recent estimates suggest that Korea accounts for nearly 40 percent of the global golf apparel market, placing it among the world’s most influential golf fashion markets and punching well above its size.
Simply, we care deeply about how new golf clubs look and feel, but enjoy looking good while swinging them even more.
Golfers in the West may laugh and say that golf is played on a course, not a fashion runway. Perhaps. But what’s the harm in trying to look and feel good, if the added self-confidence can help actual performance? It certainly seems to have worked for Jason Day, who may have unlocked a new stats category: dormant strokes gained. Coincidence?
During the COVID-era, estimates placed the market near $9 billion, an astonishing figure for a single country.
As a proud member of Gen X, I’ve witnessed the highs and lows of golf fashion firsthand. The pleated trousers and wing-tipped shoes of Jack Nicklaus, the stylish plus-fours and knickers of Payne Stewart, the baggy black trousers and fitted mock-necks of Tiger Woods, and the thigh-hugging athletic tailoring of Rory McIlroy. Golf fashion, like the golf swing itself, has rarely stood still.
But nowhere have those trends shifted, evolved, and been scrutinized quite as relentlessly as in Korea. Here, golf fashion moves faster than fairway gossip, and consumers dissect brands with a level of discernment that can be both impressive and mildly terrifying. New brands are studied, judged, embraced, or dismissed with startling efficiency.
The result is a consumer base with one of the sharpest eyes for quality and authenticity anywhere in the world. It is difficult to quantify, but easy to recognize. Clean lines without trying too hard. Luxury mixed with utility. Trend awareness balanced by restraint and purpose.
It’s golf fashion shaped by one of the world’s most style-literate cities, something I like to call Seoul Sensibilities, referring to the taste level forged by a uniquely competitive environment.
And increasingly, global brands have noticed.
Many golf brands in Korea have their own flagship shops dedicated to apparel only
Titleist understood this years ago, when its apparel business in Korea took on a life of its own under new ownership and local direction. What had once been a straightforward extension of an iconic equipment giant became something sharper and more premium. By going all in on the serious Tour-player look (I couldn’t even fit into their XL sizes), Titleist struck the right chord with Korean consumers and helped its fledgling apparel business break into the mainstream. Titleist became a household name even for non-golfers who wore its caps, shirts, and windbreakers in daily life. In many ways, it proved that even heritage golf brands could carry real fashion credibility when viewed through a Korean lens.
Several years later, PXG took a page out of Titleist’s playbook and followed suit. Korean consumers helped transform the brand from one known largely for irons and loud commercials into something broader and more stylish. PXG apparel’s growth in Korea was explosive, where it found an early audience and turned the category into something more than mere logo merchandise. It is still hard to walk anywhere in Seoul without seeing its palindrome logo.
Malbon’s meteoric rise in the United States was genuine, but its ascent into a global golf lifestyle brand owes much to Korea, where it was elevated by a market already fluent in modern golf style. Korea did not simply embrace Malbon. It pressure-tested the concept, refined its appeal, and helped push it into the global spotlight.
As such, new brands may arrive from abroad, but more often than not, their sharpest evolution happens here. If a brand can earn credibility in Seoul, it’s deemed to have passed one of the toughest style audits in the game.
That is why the next meaningful chapter may not come from outside, but from a Korean brand moving in the opposite direction, carrying those Seoul Sensibilities outward as K-pop once did.
Play young Stay dope.
From Seoul, With Intent
Khalhon is a label that feels less like a trend-chasing newcomer and more like the product of a market that has already seen everything. Golfers here have long been surrounded by luxury logos, technical fabrics, and tour uniforms disguised as lifestyle wear and vice-versa. In other words, novelty alone rarely lasts here, and the Koreans seems to understand that instinctively.
Its style language leans into clean silhouettes, relaxed but tailored proportions, muted palettes, and premium materials that speak quietly but confidently. There is a modern city aesthetic running through it all, with strong layering pieces, thoughtful textures, and subtle branding that suggests sophistication rather than demanding attention.
“Built for the course. Designed beyond it.”
Most importantly, the garments seem designed to blur the line between golfwear and everyday style. Shirts, trousers, knitwear, and outer layers move comfortably between a game of screen golf, a lunch reservation, an airport gate, or an afternoon coffee in Gangnam with friends.
It raises the question of whether this is golfwear that happens to look good off the course, or everyday clothing that performs beautifully on the fairways.
Personally, I have long appreciated Nike Golf for its clean, athletic modernization of golf attire. It also has the useful side effect of making me look like a more serious golfer than I probably am. But off the course, there are times when being instantly identified as the golf guy in a crowd of non-golfers can feel a touch self-conscious.
“Built for the course. Designed beyond it.”
That is part of what drew me to Khalhon, which seemed to blend golf and everyday wear naturally. While some of the outfits may be slightly beyond my personal confidence level, the brand also offers tasteful options for older guys like me who still want to express a little personality without regretting the decision later.
These are not simply flashy outfits worn on the course and then banished to the closet until the next tee time. They work surprisingly well off the course too, and I suspect many of the pieces will still look right a couple of years from now, which would certainly be kinder to my wallet than most golf fashion trends tend to be.
And perhaps that broader lifestyle positioning also helps explain why someone like Sean Wotherspoon would find Khalhon creatively interesting in the first place.
“Built for the course. Designed beyond it.”
“Korea is not only one of the most fashion-forward golf markets in the world, but one of the most fashion-forward markets globally. Korea is ahead, and I love to watch and try to catch up.” – Sean Wotherspoon, Creative Director at Khalhon
Seoul and Beyond
If Khalhon’s rise says something about where Korean golf fashion is today, its relationship with Sean Wotherspoon says even more about where it is heading.
For readers less familiar with Sean Wotherspoon, his arrival at Khalhon is not some routine celebrity endorsement or influencer collaboration. In design and streetwear circles, Wotherspoon is regarded as one of the more influential creative voices of his generation, particularly when it comes to blending nostalgia, storytelling, and contemporary culture into products that people can connect with.
He first gained widespread attention through his now-famous Nike sneaker collaborations, where his vintage-inspired designs and instinct for color helped turn him into one of the defining artists of the late-2010s sneaker era. His work gradually expanded beyond footwear into apparel, automotive collaborations, collectibles, and broader lifestyle design.
Modern golf style now extends well beyond the fairways, where performance and functionality are largely expected by default. And while plenty of brands already make technically competent golfwear, Khalhon seems more focused on designing clothes people would genuinely want to wear even after the round ends.
And when guys at Wotherspoon’s level show genuine interest in working with a Korean golf brand as its new Creative Director, fashion circles tend to sit up and pay attention. There’s already a huge buzz among the fashion-conscious here about upcoming collabs with iconic sports stars and brands.
“My creative direction for Khalhon is disruptive, colorful, nostalgic, and modern. My goal is to blend these avenues seamlessly within each collection.” – Sean Wotherspoon
In chatting with Sean, what stood out most to me was how genuinely energized he sounded about the project itself. Despite having already worked across and countless other creative spaces, he described golf as a completely fresh category for him, saying that Khalhon “will be an amazing vehicle for my design work.”
At the same time, his enthusiasm seemed tied just as much to Korea itself. He spoke openly about admiring Korea’s fashion culture while repeatedly insisting he is still a terrible golfer.
There was something oddly refreshing about that humility. Rather than sounding like a celebrity parachuting into golf simply because the category suddenly became fashionable, Sean sounded genuinely curious about what Korea might do with the category next.
And perhaps that is what makes Khalhon feel interesting right now. The brand feels less like a trend-chaser and more like the natural result of a market now confident enough to export its own point of view.
For years, global brands came to Korea to sharpen their image against one of the most discerning audiences anywhere. Now, a Korean label appears ready to send those Seoul Sensibilities outward instead.
Which brings us back to kkot-saem-chu-i.
That final cold snap before spring always arrives with a reminder that seasons are changing, whether we notice it immediately or not. Golf fashion feels a little like that right now as well, as the old boundaries between sport, streetwear, luxury, and everyday style continue to soften.
And somewhere in Seoul, a Korean golf label already seems prepared for whatever season comes next. I just hope they have everything in my size.
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Tom Allinder
Aug 20, 2015 at 8:07 am
From a writer’s point of view, Tim’s article is hugely successful! 96 comments… 97 now counting mine. The mission of the writer is to create ENGAGEMENT. Mission accomplished.
As far as the content? To me, both Van De Velde collapse as well as DJ’s were stunning. I would still have to say Van De Velde’s was the biggest. I just wanted to reach through the TV screen and grab him by the shoulders and shake him and tell him, “Put it back in the #%(&!@+ FAIRWAY! a 6 wins!”
DJ said in an interview at the PGA Championship that the 4 ft putt just didn’t “bounce in”. He removed some of the responsibility by blaming it on the greens.
And, regarding DJ, I do have to wonder if he has some scar tissue now. He ran out to the lead at the halfway point of the Open Championship and then struggled the last 36 holes. At the PGA, he lead after one round and then disappeared. The 69 in the last round with an 8 on the first hole was remarkable though.
8thehardway
Jul 2, 2015 at 12:06 am
Jean’s flaw was arrogance. Just winning wasn’t enough, his pride demanded he do it in style. Winning would have elevated the spirit of his countrymen, who had suffered a one-hundred year drought of Open Championships and as he approached the final 487-yard hole Jean knew in return for slaking their nationalistic thirst his compatriots would make him a hero and stand him to drinks for the rest of his life… and even that was not enough.
It was as if he wanted that final hole to make amends for six years without a win and believed he risked nothing by burdening his talent with such a goal; and so, in service to a petty preoccupation with a small blemish on what would have been a crowning achievement in his career and his country Jean unleashed such magnificent mismanagement it is still written about.
Here’s the most you can say about putting…
“I miss, I miss, I miss, I make.” Seve Ballesteros on his four-putt from 15 feet on the 16th green of the 1988 Masters.
leo
Jun 29, 2015 at 5:03 pm
not even close you reference a 15 hdcp in the article when a 15 could have won with van de veldes lead just hit 3 wedges and 3 putt to win even if dustin 2 putts he still would have had to win the playoff
Davide Mattucci
Jun 28, 2015 at 1:00 pm
Joke of an article… Feeble attempt at comparing these… As evidenced by just about all the comments. DJ parred the last hole and executed shots VDV would have shat his pants trying to hit in his mental state during his melt down. Not sure. What the point of this piece was… Glad to see it in the shank leaderboard…
Toad37
Jun 25, 2015 at 4:10 pm
Way to kick a guy when he is down.
Jeff Kinney
Jun 24, 2015 at 6:51 pm
You’re a complete idiot. Johnson’s putt was downhill, and it was pretty obvious that if he missed the eagle putt it was going to be 4-5 feet by the hole. I think he was unlucky that his ball didn’t come back down the hill to a place near where Spieth putted for eagle, which was an uphill putt that he was able to leave within inches.
Bob Jones
Jun 24, 2015 at 4:50 pm
Three-putting from 12 feet is inexcusable for me to do. For one of the best golfers in the world to do that, on the verge of winning the most difficult tournament in the world, there are no words. Just cozy it down there and give it a chance to go in. If it doesn’t, tap in your 6-incher and head to the playoff. I just think that D doesn’t have the head for big moments like this. This is definitely an all-time fonebone.
talljohn777
Jun 24, 2015 at 4:17 pm
Dustin Johnson – The worst Par in history.
kn
Jun 24, 2015 at 2:58 pm
Horrible article. Tragic attempt to compare/connect two very different events and people. Freaking heartless ambulance chaser.
Steven Thomas
Jun 24, 2015 at 12:32 pm
This has to rank as one of the worst golf articles ever written. Hey Tim, did you have “writers block” and this is the only thing you could come up with?
BigJerm
Jun 24, 2015 at 12:11 pm
This ranks right up there with the ridiculous “Why does everyone hate Rickie Fowler” article. Trolling for controversy/comments. This is the equivalent of race-baiting for golf. Does Al Sharpton have a side gig writing for GolfWRX now?
DJ and Van De Velde’s final holes are not even in the same ball park.
Jeff C
Jun 24, 2015 at 12:05 pm
This article should be deleted asap to prevent the author from further humiliation.
John Krug
Jun 24, 2015 at 11:33 am
This has to rank among the stupidest articles on golf ever written.
sullytf
Jun 24, 2015 at 10:01 am
Van de Velde’s choke was worse by the length of a par 5. 3 shot lead with one to play, and you do that?? He had one chance at golf immortality during the Tiger era and he crapped the bed. I was amazed he made the putt to get in the playoff.
Zubair
Jun 24, 2015 at 6:48 am
Easily the worst golf article (not tiger-based) I’ve ever read. This website along with golf channel are bringing shame to the golfing community. TMZ and social media has killed good journalism.
Comparing him to Van De Velde is so absurd, I could write an essay about how wrong you are. Majority of people feel for DJ, because every player can relate to a missed 4 footer when we needed a make. The guy hit a 5-iron 245 to 12 feet, you’re comparing him to sniping all over the place Jean VDV. You’re crazy.
Bob Jones
Jun 24, 2015 at 4:52 pm
Most world-class golfers, though, wouldn’t have a 4-foot comebacker if they started from 12 feet.
Zubair
Jun 25, 2015 at 11:02 am
You clearly didn’t watch the putting woes those world class golfers faced all week at Chambers. That putt was lightning fast, majority would have went a bit long on that putt, 4 feet is on the high end I admit. However all that we have to realize is that every great player has missed a 4 footer that they needed at some point in their career, DJ’s was just unfortunately on the world’s biggest stage. We can all relate, but many choose to hate. The path is yours. I’ll relate.
John
Jun 23, 2015 at 8:10 pm
This has got to be one of the worst articles ever written. DJ was 3 back with 3 to play. Van De Velde was 2 up with 1 to play. Tim Gavrich really shouldn’t be writing for your site.
Rich
Jun 23, 2015 at 5:49 pm
What a stupid article. This website is really scraping the bottom of the barrel with this one. Now I know why I don’t frequent this site as often as I used to. It’s because they publish rubbish.
Rich
Jun 23, 2015 at 4:12 pm
Mickelson’s gag at Winged Foot in 2006 is worse than both of these combined.
John
Jun 23, 2015 at 8:12 pm
What about Monty’s gag there? He made double on that last hole too to give it away.
Karl
Jun 23, 2015 at 11:58 pm
Wrong! Phil was having a terrible ball striking day and had to scrape out pars with his short game. Hitting a wild drive on 18 on a tough golf hole was not that big of a surprise. Bones backed this up in a recent interview about Phil’s most disappointing US Open runner up finishes. Winged Foot was not in the top three for the reason that I mentioned. Bones said it was a miracle he was in that position as inconsistently as he was striking the ball all day.
Dick
Jun 23, 2015 at 2:24 pm
Haters gonna hate…
Dan
Jun 23, 2015 at 11:34 am
Ok, is it just me, am I the only one who feels that there was 100,000,000 plus reasons for DJ to 3 putt? It’s easy math, if Taylor Made sold just 1,000,000 clubs at $430, that’s $430,000,000. If it sold two million clubs that $860,000,000. Take care of your sponsor and you may just get that $100,000,000 five year endorsement. Thats vs 1.8 million to win the US Open. What corporation in its right mind would give back that type of gross revenue.
digsnola
Jun 23, 2015 at 8:25 pm
The free driver promotion was sponsored by PGA Tour Superstores for new-line drivers purchased at one of their 23 stores between May 18th and June 17th. Similar to hole in one insurance, the premium paid is subject to promotion period (31 days), estimated units sold (<3000), and odds of DJ winning (18 to 1). So figure $1M in sales divided by 18 times a 30% markup for the insurer and the premium is about $75,000. It was probably partially subsidized by TM and its $75M global marketing budget.
nathan
Jun 23, 2015 at 11:19 am
As soon as i saw that 12 footer go past I knew everybody was racing off to write of another ‘DJ collapse’
Struggling with your putting all day and shooting level par is not a collapse
Giving a 12 footer for eagle and the win a go and missing, is not a collapse
Making par on the last is not a collapse
Mat
Jun 23, 2015 at 9:33 am
#clickbait
Ironhorse723
Jun 23, 2015 at 9:13 am
This article should have been stopped at the lead editor before it was published. This makes no sense, wow!
MW
Jun 23, 2015 at 9:12 am
What a terrible article! It looks like someone who is trying too hard to make a name for himself by writing something that’s going to stir up controversy instead of someone who actually thought before they spewed out meaningless dribble. The very fact that Johnson was behind when he teed off on 18 and Van De Velde was ahead by three makes this article moot. DJ hit a huge drive and then an even more impressive iron from 247 yards to a green where you had to play the banks like a pool table. The fact that he even had a putt at winning was amazing, and even though he did blow the putt to tie, it was not a major collapse of any sort. Tim needs to go back to trying to break 90 to see if he can even appreciate a smidgen of what real pressure is really like.
other paul
Jun 23, 2015 at 9:02 am
I bet this guy was walking around the office and thought he needed to write a story to get his name out there. So he decided to write a story that would piss people off. It worked.
Oscar
Jun 23, 2015 at 6:03 am
I agree with some other comments- DJ lost the title when he made several (was it 4?) soft bogeys in a row. A Spieth would never do that- witness Jordan’s steely response after an even softer double bogey to let everyone else back in the tournament after Grace’s OB seemingly had gifted it to him.
I think DJ already lost one Major like that- he had the lead, made an early double bogey after some bone-headed, Van De Velde-like, decisions and then just went downhill from there instead of steadying the ship and allowing others to collapse for a change.
Billy
Jun 23, 2015 at 4:56 am
Thanx Tim who never 3 putted, acually never heard of Tim.
Jake Anderson
Jun 23, 2015 at 4:43 am
Jean Van de Veldes heartbreak was a lot worse, because the Open is a bigger championship than the USGA’s Open Tournament. Also, people like Mr. Van de Veldes a lot more than the player Johnson.
Spin
Jun 23, 2015 at 3:38 am
VDV’s was MUCH worse! That would be about his only chance to win a Major in his entire career. DJ has loads more chances. He’s not too worried. He’ll learn from this. Remember Phil’s wait to get his first? Phil made plenty of blunders, but he knew if he stuck with it he would have a few. VDV blew his only chance, and it really WAS his only chance, so his collapse was way worse. You’ve got it all bass-ackwards, my friend.
Carl
Jun 23, 2015 at 12:39 am
I think Tim knows all of this, he just needed you to click and comment
DDog
Jun 23, 2015 at 12:32 am
Poor comparison. Needed birdie to tie and due to 2 awesome shots had a chance to snatch a win, that is no choke or collapse.
He then had to navigate what appeared to be the worst greens ever.
Not sure why you’d even write such garbage. Agree with the “sensationalist journalism” reference if you could call it that..
I'm Ron Burgundy??
Jun 22, 2015 at 11:33 pm
I’m in a glass case of emotions!
golfiend
Jun 22, 2015 at 10:55 pm
this article is the equivalent of a shank … mickelson, watson, etc had some bad final 18th hole too. very contrived article.
Jm
Jun 22, 2015 at 10:45 pm
Birdied 17 then absolutely annihilated a driver on 18. Proceeds to hit it 12 feet and then he hits his first putt a little too hard and missed a four footer on the worst greens I have seen on tour and you compare that to van de veldes comedy of errors?!?! Worst golf article I have read
harrold
Jun 22, 2015 at 6:43 pm
Such a poor article how on earth you can discredit his tee shot on 17 and two shots into 18 which were 3 of the best all day on those holes is just ridiculous. Yes he missed a putt but he was doing that all day, he wouldn’t have had a chance at all if it wasn’t for his 3 shots to set it up.
Ron
Jun 22, 2015 at 6:37 pm
Are you serious? You compare a three putt on those terrible greens to that disaster? Gosh I must of missed the part where Dustin took his shoes off and jumped in the water and tried to kill a snake….
Stick to playing, not writing.
Matto
Jun 22, 2015 at 6:30 pm
Should DJ not get some kudos for having a crack at the eagle to win? Not just lagging for the chance at a playoff?
You do remember that the missed 3footer was to tie don’t you, not the win? Comparing these 2 is SO far off the mark.
RobF
Jun 22, 2015 at 6:22 pm
Dustin really didn’t’ putt well yesterday. And the excuse of how bad the greens were and the course was is just getting old. All players had to play the same course.
John
Jun 22, 2015 at 6:16 pm
DJ didn’t lose the tournament/not get into a playoff on the 18th, he lost it because of that poor 4 hole stretch on the back nine. He made a great birdie on the 17th and played the 18th very well apart from that birdie putt.
Dustin didn’t collapse on the last hole, it simply looks that way because it was the last hole which makes it look worse than it was, think about any 4 day tournament and a player will miss the odd 3 footer, if he does that on the 4th hole on Friday no one really pays attention, if he does it on the 18th on Sunday, he’s a choker, the situation changes everything.
Gautama
Jun 23, 2015 at 12:22 pm
Exactly – not sure what tournament some people were watching, but this is exactly how I saw it too.
Not sure it needs to be said again, but good lord what a ridiculous article this was, was he kidding?
me
Jun 24, 2015 at 12:38 pm
The missed eagle was excusable due to the sheer difficulty of the downhill breaker he had. But a true champion is going to find a way to grind it out and make that 3 footer. Doesn’t matter what he did on the previous 71 holes.
Gorden
Jun 22, 2015 at 5:49 pm
We would be watching the playoff this afternoon had Dustin just let Jason mark his ball…Dustin would have known not to go past Jason’s mark so he would have a read if in fact he missed his first one. I would agree Van De Velde did choke a bit more.
devilsadvocate
Jun 23, 2015 at 5:20 am
Uh no incorrect… The fact that there is a mark on the other side of the hole means nothing… Day should have finished out exactly as he did… Imagine trying to make that 3 footer right after dj holed that eagle putt…
Carl
Jun 22, 2015 at 5:07 pm
Tim you are either really slow or you are desperate for clicks, maybe both
Matto
Jun 22, 2015 at 5:51 pm
+100
Eric
Jun 23, 2015 at 11:14 am
He’s getting lots of clicks… On the “Shank” button!
John Shepherd
Jun 22, 2015 at 3:55 pm
Comparing those two completely different events is terrible. Dustin made an incredible birdie to get in contention to make one at the last, he then hit two awesome shots. The first putt was in a very fast area, not some easy putt. Second one was pushed enough said. To it is a miss not a COLLAPSE this article is ridiculous.
Christosterone
Jun 22, 2015 at 3:51 pm
Doug Sanders?!?!?
He had a 2 footer for the Open Championship which was a completely flat putt…
devilsadvocate
Jun 23, 2015 at 5:22 am
Actually it was a breaking putt but it was still 2 ft
Dunce
Jun 22, 2015 at 2:26 pm
I’m going to agree with this article actually, I think the majority of people on this board could 2 putt from 12 feet downhill, then again most of us could easily put up a 7 or worse on 18 at Carnoustie
Jay
Jun 22, 2015 at 1:32 pm
This is by far the WORST article I have ever read on WRX….hands down
Steve
Jun 22, 2015 at 1:19 pm
does this site read the article before they publish it on the site. It is clear they need content of any level, but this is the bottom.
Justin
Jun 22, 2015 at 1:09 pm
wow! WRX writers are getting close to sensationalist journalism – such a joke article. How can you compare DJ’s situation to Jean Van De Velde’s 1999 Open Championship debacle? want to get comments, write articles like this.
unreal article!
Billy Who
Jun 22, 2015 at 1:06 pm
Ha this is great:
https://twitter.com/BillyWhoschel
larrybud
Jun 22, 2015 at 12:45 pm
This article is hilarious. To think that a single missed putt (for a TIE, by the way) is not only equivalent, but worse than blowing a 3 shot lead which was mistake compounded upon mistake, is ludicrous.
Even if he two putted (because you’re not saying the 12 footer was a choke job, right?) he probably had a 50/50 shot against Spieth.
brian d
Jun 22, 2015 at 12:34 pm
I respect the fact he went of the win.
Mat
Jun 22, 2015 at 6:35 pm
Winner, winner. That eagle goes in, and everyone thinks he’s a saint. He misses a squirrely 4-footer on a crap green, and while he pulled it, now he’s the single biggest choke ever? Are you joking? He parred the hole! If he was only simply in the second-to-last group, your narrative wouldn’t exist. What a joke this article is.
Jericho
Jun 22, 2015 at 12:20 pm
Again ..some stellar writing from golfwrx would you guys do me a favor and write an article that actually makes sense.. .. It’s not like Dustin had a four shot lead going in to the 18th .. I’m not sure if you guys know this but Spieth double bogeyed a par three just before to even it.. Both Johnson and Spieth were on in two for eagle, one of them two putted one of them three putted how is that the worst blowup in history .. There isn’t anyone in the hundreds of years of history since the inception of golf that didn’t have a super slick short down hiller that ran past and was missed coming back .. Have most of these players ever even played Chambers Bay before this year .. With the Collie flower like Poana/concrete like greens .. It was a total crapshoot for anyone.. So how is Dustins the worst blowup in history again??
marshap
Jun 22, 2015 at 12:19 pm
Mr. Gavrich, you should write comments for the WWF, not golf. Your reasoning is palpably ridiculous. GolfWRX, we deserve better.
Jeff Q
Jun 22, 2015 at 12:16 pm
Yeah, DJ didn’t “collapse” as much as he “choked” if you want to get the hyperbole correct. He was trailing anyway, had a chance to win but missed it. He didn’t have a lead and lose it.
Bread
Jun 22, 2015 at 11:43 am
I’m sorry, but needing to birdie to tie and not getting it is no where near as bad as needing to double-bogey to win. Van de Velde could have hit 5 iron, 5 iron, 9 iron, PW, and 3 putted. Johnson hit a 340 drive and a clutch 2nd shot to put himself into position to win. No way his 3 putt from 12 feet is worse than the warm turd that Van de Velde dropped.
Bacon
Jun 22, 2015 at 12:57 pm
Fully agreed.
Hmm-IamoutofR15
Jun 22, 2015 at 11:31 am
DJ played better than anyone in the field in this one. Spieth got lucky. Oh, well. Maybe DJ will kick butt in the next major.
Dunce
Jun 22, 2015 at 2:24 pm
He missed way too many short putts on Sunday to say he played better than anyone in the field.
devilsadvocate
Jun 23, 2015 at 5:25 am
He did HIT the better than anyone… Also #1 in putting thru Saturday
Kevin
Jun 22, 2015 at 11:15 am
Tough situation on 18 for DJ. Having a putt to win the US Open, you want to give it a real chance to go in, knowing the greens are bumpy but balancing that with the slope. I respect that he gave it a real run. His short putts lacked enough pace more often than not Sunday. He needed to hit his second putt with the same conviction. Kind of like Rory, if they had made half the short putts they missed, either could have won easily. Spieth separates himself with his putting. I felt like I watched Rory miss 15 or more putts inside 8′.
MikeA
Jun 22, 2015 at 11:11 am
That was a tough putt under US Open tourney pressure…but the public needs to consider the tournament and how the players performed as a whole for the week and not that one putt. When history looks back at this tourney, it will see Jordan’s play and him as a champion.
Ian
Jun 22, 2015 at 11:10 am
Even a non-golfer can tell you that what DJ did was no where near that of Van De Velde.
Watching the clip of Van De Velde reminded me of just how cringe worthy that was. That’s golf I guess.
MHendon
Jun 22, 2015 at 11:01 am
Yeah I’d say it’s a bit of a stretch saying Van De Velde lost the title biggest choker to Dustin on this one. Overall Dustin played that 18th magnificently and if you look at the video of the final putt right here on this page you can see he made a good stroke. The ball just simply dove left on him.
Greg Hunter
Jun 22, 2015 at 10:59 am
wow, some harsh comments for DJ…none of us would have made that putt, because none of could even qualify
Pat M
Jun 22, 2015 at 11:19 am
If my local muni course had greens like that – they would go out of business. What an awful course.
Jericho
Jun 22, 2015 at 12:01 pm
Lol..Greg good one
Johan
Jun 22, 2015 at 10:41 am
I think DJ was rattled, by Jason Day’s distracting questions about who should go first. Really Jason? You have no chance to win – so you are suggesting to let Dustin go first for the potential win/tie – and then what? You’d tap in for an asterisk in the history books? Common sense would dictate that Day finishes and then step aside for the drama to unfold. Unfortunately, I think it was the lack of focus that cost Dustin.
Brad
Jun 22, 2015 at 10:51 am
If something so simple would rattle DJ, he should find another career.
MHendon
Jun 22, 2015 at 10:54 am
He asked Dustin would you like me to finish because he would be on Dustins through line. That’s simple courtesy that all avid golfers are familiar with.
Matto
Jun 22, 2015 at 6:18 pm
Actually Jason displayed the perfect gentlemanly etiquette. 100%
devilsadvocate
Jun 23, 2015 at 5:34 am
Did u not watch? He definitely should have finished before Dustin for obvious reasons however ETIQUETTE demand any player about ttoplay out of turn should ask if they may play out of turn… Hence the question to dj was really just a courtesy ask but dj is such an idiot he goes “uhhhh uhhhh… Uhhhh… I don’t care” and day , sounding like he was a little tired of dj being a big meathead, quickly did the right thing and said “I’ll just finish” ….. Jason day did everything right according to the traditions of the game and if you really think that’s what caused the 3 jack… I’m sorry but you are incorrect
Erik
Jun 22, 2015 at 10:37 am
Why anyone is feeling sorry for a crack addict is beyond me. Especially after all his antics on tour. DJ is not a champion, Speith is. Compare their personalities. Is anyone really surprised?
Joe
Jun 22, 2015 at 10:36 am
TMAG secretly paid him off so they wouldn’t have to refund 10,000 TMAG driver customers.
Lane
Jun 22, 2015 at 11:04 am
I am no conspiracy theorist but that is a very interesting thought. Although the counter is that repaying the purchase price would not matter because of the sales TMAG would receive from a DJ victory.
Dylan
Jun 22, 2015 at 12:09 pm
One word.. Insurance. Doubtful the refunds would be coming out of tmags pocket
Me Nunya
Jun 22, 2015 at 12:36 pm
Completely forgot about the people rooting for a free driver until now, holy sh**!
$450 on the line and he 3 jacks. Enjoy your R15s people. LOL.
Matt
Jun 22, 2015 at 10:24 am
This is a bad comparison. DJ hit the best drive I’ve ever seen on 18 tee and then followed it up with an amazing 5-iron from 250. That’s clutch. Too bad he wasn’t able to keep it going on the green. Could’ve happened to anyone.
Nolanski
Jun 22, 2015 at 10:20 am
Everybody was putting on the same greens Sunday… They might have been poor but the playing field was level.
Pat M
Jun 22, 2015 at 10:14 am
I feel really bad for Dustin. In his defense, those greens were the worst ever. I could have made nice greens with crab grass and weed. The worst course in US Open history. Goony golf will cammo greens.
Carl
Jun 23, 2015 at 12:41 am
DJ loves weed he should have been right at home
BigBoy
Jun 22, 2015 at 10:14 am
DJ will be accepting the mantle from Norman some time this week as “the” CHOKER
Pat M
Jun 22, 2015 at 10:15 am
At least Norman had decent greens to put on. DJ had a cammo colored cow pasture. Chambers Bay is a poster child for Round Up and Weed B Gone.
Jim
Jun 22, 2015 at 10:24 am
…. “If Dustin Johnson wins, Taylormade loses….” That was their add leading into this week. I wonder how much Taylormade would have lost if Dustin won…
Zooch79
Jun 22, 2015 at 10:47 am
I’m sure they hedged themselves with of hole-in-one insurance…
me
Jun 24, 2015 at 12:47 pm
TM definitely insured that gamble. There is no chance that any company would allow a gamble like that without hedging their bets. The funny thing is, their slogan was “If Dustin Johnson wins, Taylormade loses”, but in reality, even if DJ won, TM would still have made out on the deal given the increase in sales that this whole thing promoted, coupled with the fact that they hedged their bet. Smart play TM.