Brett Banter

We love golf at Brett. Anyone who knows us, knows that. Which makes this a tough public relations story to blog about today. Golf is hurting. The PGA Championship, which is one of the four golf majors and not really a title per se, was held over the weekend. Of course, the story is not first-time winner Martin Kaymer of Germany, who in this photo looks like he is goose stepping to victory. It is Dustin Johnson, who saw his chance at victory, grounded into a battle of sand. To condense what happened (it's long), Johnson hit a late round shot into the gallery. Not the worse thing to happen, but not great. He found the ball in a pile of sand. Now to most people, sand means a bunker. However, this bunker had people standing in it, and not far away a woman was making sand castles with her child. (Gee, I wonder if hubby dragged the family to course on Sunday). Johnson assumed it was just part of the course so he touched his club to the ground. Twice. That's a no-no. He was penalized and ultimately lost the tournament. And that's where the public relations problem comes in.

The PGA specifically warned golfers about these sand traps during the week. There were actual sand traps no matter where they were located on or off the course or if people were in them or if sand castles were in play. It's a bad deal for Johnson, but it is the right decision.

It's an emotional issue and facts don't often work in an emotional issue. The PGA is going to come off as unfeeling. People are going to opine that it needs to somehow help Johnson. But it needs to stick to its guns. It is in the right.