Another Ship Sinks Near the Shores of Lake Michigan

Finally, a major that had an abundance of what the last two lacked - Drama! Three-hole aggregate playoff between the confident, young German, Martin Kaymer, and the wild, bomber Bubba Watson, who just last week at Firestone was happy to have made a cut that didn't actually exist.

Then there was the controversial sand trap penalty which cost long-hitting Dustin Johnson two strokes and a shot at the Wanamaker Trophy. While Kaymer and Watson sat patiently in the clubhouse waiting to see if three's company, Johnson could only listen in disbelief as he was informed of his infraction.

Few would have blamed Johnson if he had put his fist through a locker room wall, but by all accounts, the South Carolinian was the perfect gentleman. Those who know him well would have expected nothing less.

Ultimately, Johnson's mistake was his own. Painful to watch for the fans, and twice as painful for Johnson himself, he or his caddie should have taken more time sizing up the shot and the situation. Chalk it up to youth. Chalk it up to the pressure of the 72nd hole of a major championship. But know this. Had that been Phil Mickelson, or Tiger Woods, or Padraig Harrington, or Jim Furyk in that "bunker," they would have taken every precaution before deciding on what situation they were in and what was required. They would have called a rules official over for a clarification. They would have waited until Pete Dye himself came out to give a ruling.

Yes, there is certainly enough blame to go around. But ultimately, the blame rests with Johnson, and once the moment has passed and the reality of what happened settles in, I'm sure he'll be the first to shoulder that blame, learn from it, and be ready for his next shot at major glory in April.