Sympathy aplenty as Johnson dream bites dust

THERE was no shortage of sympathy for American Dustin Johnson after he was penalised for grounding his club in a bunker to lose a spot in a play-off at the USPGA Championship.

The two players who did contest the play-off, winner Martin Kaymer of Germany and American Bubba Watson, expressed condolences, while the official who imposed the two-stroke penalty paid tribute to the way Johnson handled himself when told the grim news.

“I can’t describe anything other than to say he was a perfect gentleman to me,” said Mark Wilson, co-chairman of the PGA of America rules committee.