PGA Tour pro refuses to blame caddie after almighty rules blunder

PGA Tour pro Joel Dahmen admitted Ian Woosnam was on his mind after he was given a four-shot penalty at the opening round of the Shriners Children's Open.

Woosnam was involved in one of the most memorable moments in major championship history at the 2001 Open. 

The former Masters champion was tied for the lead during the final round at Royal Lytham & St Annes when he realised he had too many clubs in his bag.

Related:

• Shriners Children's Open prize money

Woosnam was furious with his caddie and stung with a two-shot penalty. He ended up finishing third. 

Dahmen was given a four-shot penalty after he realised on the fourth tee box that he had two 4-irons in his bag at TPC Summerlin. 

The golfer, 35, refused to blame his caddie Geno Bonnalie for the mistake. 

He's always quick to notice a mouldy banana at the bottom of his bag, he said, but somehow he didn't notice the extra club. 

Dahmen said that it had never happened to him before. 

"I don't know how it got there," he later said after an opening round of 76.

"It sucks."

Asked what his immediate reaction was, he said: "I think there might have been a couple curse words, but I had a lot of people out supporting me today, helping our family foundation. 

"It was one of those moments where you like want to lose it and you want to get mad, be mad at yourself, be mad at Geno, be mad at the world.

"But you look around and people are donating a bunch of money to our foundation and life is not that bad. 

"It's a mistake. It's going to happen. Unfortunately happened at this moment in time."

He added: "But, yeah, just stripped one down the middle after that and had plenty of birdie putts; we just didn't make them today. 

"Yeah, [it was] one of those [things] where you live and learn. Geno feels terrible. I feel terrible.

"We'll tee it up tomorrow morning and try to make a bunch of birdies."

Dahmen said he was aware how many shots he was going to be docked. 

"It's one of those weird ones that sticks with you," he said. "It happens maybe once a year. 

"I remember Ian Woosnam did it way back when at the British Open when he was around the lead.

"I knew it was a max of four, but I called over a rules official just to confirm everything, handed the club off, and played with 14 the rest of the way."

Canada's Taylor Pendrith hit the front on day one with a 10-under 61. 

As many as nine players were tied second on 7-under.

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