Swift video review will assist refs in bid to prevent US Open rules farce

Open Championship organisers are confident they can avoid the rules farce that threatened to overshadow last month’s US Open when play gets underway at Royal Troon today.

Ireland’s Shane Lowry and his title rivals were kept in the dark during the final round at Oakmont when a possible penalty hovered over Dustin Johnson.

The American, who went on to win the US Open for his first major championship victory, had seen his ball move slightly as he lined up a putt at the fifth hole. He called in the match referee to make a decision and was initially cleared of any infraction but as he stood on the 12th tee, later in his round, Johnson was told by officials that the incident was now under review and so with seven holes to play, neither players or spectators were sure of the actual state of play. Lowry had started the last round four clear but had fallen two shots behind Johnson when the incident came under review at the 12th.