Each week leading up to the 107th U.S. Open, the Post-Gazette will chronicle a past major moment or some historical aspect at Oakmont Country Club.

Ernie Els had to go 20 extra holes to win the 1994 U.S. Open at Oakmont, but he got some unexpected help in the final round. And it came from a person who should know better.

Els started the final round with a two-shot lead and badly pulled his tee shot on the first hole into the thick, gnarly rough on the left side. However, Els was given a free lift without penalty from USGA rules chairman Trey Holland because an ABC camera crane was between Els' ball and the first green.

Holland said Els was entitled to relief because the crane was a temporary immovable object, even though the driver of the crane was sitting in the truck and could have moved the camera.

"When a rules official offers you a drop, what are you supposed to do?" Els said. "I certainly wasn't going to say no."

It turned out to be an incorrect ruling, a mistake Holland admitted later. Els got a free drop in the rough, but his ball was sitting in much better position than his original nasty lie. Els knocked a 5-iron from 195 yards onto the green and three-putted for bogey, but even he conceded he probably would have made double bogey or worse if he didn't.