My Dustin Johnson moment has been hard to shake

By foxsports
Published

UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. -- What an incredible finish to the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay.

Don’t be jealous, but after I finished my duties at the FOX compound, I got to run out and personally witness history being made. I stood 10 yards from Jordan Speith on the 18th hole as he hit one of the greatest fairway woods in a major championship.

After he tapped his putt in for birdie, I stood 20 feet from the green on 18 as Dustin Johnson hit a shot that shocked everyone -- an incredible 5-iron to the last hole that rolled to within 12 feet for eagle. My heart was pumping. Never before in the U.S. Open has anyone made eagle on the final hole to win, so I believed I was going to watch sports history before my eyes.

Then something ugly happened. Dustin choked.

As I watched him roll his eagle putt 4 feet past the hole I had a flashback from my own past. In 2004, I was in a playoff at the Byron Nelson in Dallas against Sergio Garcia.  After I ran my birdie putt 4 feet by the hole, I stood over the par putt to extend the playoff. I had putted great all week, but the strangest feeling came over me.

What if I miss?

A split-second before I took the putter back, in my head I could hear the groans of the crowd as the ball ran past the hole, and a split second after I hit the putt that’s exactly what I heard. I missed the putt to give Sergio the trophy.

This picture pretty much says it all, and 11 years later it doesn't feel much different.

Did I choke? Absolutely.

Sunday, on the 72nd hole of the U.S. Open, did Dustin Johnson choke? Absolutely.

Eleven years later, I still occasionally have dreams about that putt, and I think about it almost every day. I’m incredibly proud of my career as a professional golfer, but of all the good that happened in my 10 years on the PGA Tour, that’s the memory that sticks with me more than anything else. And the unfortunate reality is that what Dustin did Sunday will stick with him for the rest of his life. He could win 10 majors, but this will be the one he remembers most. 

Still, he has nothing to be ashamed of. He gave it his best shot and came up just short. It’s something that happens in all walks of life -- it’s just that when it happens on the 18th hole of the major, it’s going to leave a mark.

Former PGA Tour pro Robert Damron is a regular contributor to FOXSports.com's golf coverage. Follow him on Twitter @RobertDDamron.