One of Dustin Johnson’s strengths on the golf course is a short memory. He has needed it through several bizarre situations and sudden collapses in major championships throughout the past decade.
That began at the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, where he blew a three-shot, 54-hole lead with a final-round 82.
Two months later in the 2010 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, he grounded his club in a bunker he didn’t think was a bunker on the 72nd hole, ultimately falling out of a playoff because of the subsequent two-shot penalty.
In 2011, he was in contention deep into the final round of the Open Championship at Royal St. George’s before his run ended with a 2-iron hit out of bounds on the 14th hole.
Perhaps most mind-blowing of all, Johnson was in prime position at the 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay, but he three-putted from 12 feet on the 72nd hole and finished one shot behind Jordan Spieth.
When he finally did claim his first major title at the 2016 U.S. Open, it wasn’t without controversy. No penalty was initially given when Johnson inadvertently caused his golf ball to move on the fifth hole, but the USGA informed him seven holes later they were reviewing the situation and a penalty might still be possible. Johnson cruised to the win anyway – even with the penalty.
These photos capture Johnson’s many major debacles.