Zach Johnson misses Masters cut after calling late penalty on himself

Zach Johnson walked off Augusta National on Friday afternoon thinking he was 6-over for the Masters and probably not going to make the cut. As Jordan Spieth started to struggle and come back to the field, however, Johnson’s chances at a late invite to the weekend increased slightly. Then Spieth fell back to 4-under, which would get Johnson to the final 36-holes via the 10-shot rule at the Masters.

Johnson was going to make it and play with Bubba Watson in the first tee time on Saturday morning. But then the rules officials called on him and it quickly evaporated. Watching high-definition, slow-mo replay of a shot he hit from the tributary of Rae’s Creek on the 13th revealed that the bottom of his club barely, maybe, we guess grazed the water hazard while he was taking his swing back. Johnson said he, his caddie and rules officials thought it was highly likely that he touched the water:

Johnson agreed with the rules officials’ concerns and called the penalty on himself. That added two strokes to his score at the 13th, pushed him to 8-over for the tournament and on the wrong side of the cut line. His tournament was over.

Late Friday night he tweeted out an explanation of his decision:

So, there you have it -- another minute rules detail, that probably had little effect on the outcome of the shot, is the difference between 36 holes at the Masters.