Na Calls Out DJ And Things Get Awkward Quickly
- Updated: March 27, 2021
Kevin Na called out Dustin Johnson during their 3rd match on Friday at the WGC-Dell Match Play and it was a sight to see.
DJ was 1up when his 8-foot birdie putt on the par-3 11th hole at Austin C.C. lipped out, ending up 5 inches away.
Instead of waiting for a concession from NA, DJ swiftly walked up to his ball and knocked it away.
Na then decided to have a little chat with DJ about the rules of match play right there on the green and for good reason: he was right.
Was the putt good? Na.
Na was going to give him the putt anyway, but putting your hand on the world no.1’s shoulder while telling him he’s wrong is a bold move.
He went on to win the match 1up eliminating DJ from playing the weekend. Neither will Na, but that’s not the point.
Naturally, Na was asked about the conversation after the round. Here was his full response:
“Yeah, so, I mean, I had about a two and a half, just inside three feet for a par uphill; it’s straight putt, and his lipped out and everybody was like Ah, and he had six inches and obviously it’s good, but I hadn’t said anything and he whacked it.
And I was like — and I froze there and looked at Kenny and I wasn’t going to say that’s a penalty, you’re going to lose the hole. I was going to say, you know what, that was good anyway. I didn’t want to be over that putt and be thinking about that. So I called him over and said, Hey, I’m not going to take the hole a from a you but I just want to let you know before I said something you whacked the ball. But I’m going to give that putt to you so we’ll call it a halve and go to the next hole.
That’s what we did. I think it’s the right thing to do. I don’t want to say — we all know he can make a six inch putt, so I think I did the right thing.”
DJ didn’t comment. Either he forgot what happened or just doesn’t care.
DJ was wrong. This isn’t complicated.
There are rules. Without rules there is anarchy. Anyone who plays golf knows you can’t pick up a putt like DJ did in match play or any play.
Was DJ pissed he just lipped out a birdie put? Probably. Did he do it without thinking? Also, probably. It’s a natural reaction to assume the world no.1 player can hole a 6-inch putt.
However, this is golf and those are the rules. DJ was wrong for picking it up. End of story.
If I’m Na, I’m calling a penalty on DJ every time.
This is match play, man. You screw up, you pay the consequences. I’m trying to win. Na did him a favor by not taking that hole. Sportsmanship, shmortsmanship.
However, trying to teach DJ a lesson after the fact took some serious balls and felt incredibly awkward especially when he knows the rules. At least, we’d like to think he knows the rules.
No need to make a scene about it when you know there are hot mics everywhere.
This was the dagger. Thanks, Dad. We get it.
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