WGC-Match Play: Kevin Na Confronts, Lectures Dustin Johnson
By Tim Letcher
Golf is generally a gentleman’s game but on Friday at the WGC-Match Play, there was clearly some tension in at least one match. The incident involved the world’s number one player, Dustin Johnson and Kevin Na, who were facing off in the final round of the group stage.
The match was close throughout, with neither player able to pull away. DJ won the first hole but Na squared the match on three. Na would take the lead on five, then would go 2-up on seven before DJ won eight and nine to square the match heading to the back nine.
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Johnson would win the 10th hole with a birdie and would take a 1-up advantage to the 11th hole. And that’s where things got interesting.
On the par three, DJ hit his tee shot to about eight feet, while Na’s tee shot also hit the green, but was about 25 feet away. Na hit his putt to about three feet and would eventually made par. That wasn’t the interesting part of what happened.
DJ hit his birdie putt within about a foot of the hole for a tap-in par. But, this being match play, DJ approached his ball and picked it up. And that’s where the problem ensued.
Apparently, Na had not yet conceded the putt when DJ picked up his ball. Na had a lot of options at that point. He could have claimed the hole due to what would have been a penalty on DJ. Instead, Na retroactively conceded the putt and the two halved the hole. However, he did pull Johnson back onto the green to explain to him that he must wait until a putt is verbally conceded before picking up his ball.
It wasn’t clear whether that incident shook DJ, motivated Na or both. But after that incident, it was a different match.
Na won the 12th hole to square the match. DJ won 13 and the pair halved 14. Na would win 15 to square the match once again.
DJ took the lead on 16 with a birdie on the par five but Nah birdied the par-3 17th hole to square the match with one hole to play.
On the 18th, Na stuck his second shot about seven feet from the hole, then rolled in his birdie putt to win the match. It was a solid comeback for Na against the world’s best player.
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The handshake on 18 between DJ and Na was not exactly cordial, although Na denied any harsh feelings about the incident.
Neither player will move on to the 16-player bracket, as Robert MacIntyre won Group 1 and will play the weekend.