Mickelson penalized for swatting moving ball with putter

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. —Phil Mickelson intentionally hit a moving putt on the 13th green Saturday, then asked the USGA to explain the ruling after hearing suggestions he should be disqualified from the US Open.

His bogey putt from above the hole ran by the cup and was headed down a slope when he trotted over and swatted it back toward the hole with the ball still in motion. He was assessed a two-stroke penalty, scored a 10 on the hole — the highest number anyone has managed in this tournament — and wound up shooting 81.

Later, after acknowledging he was using Rule 14-5 to his advantage, Mickelson called USGA officials.

"Phil really did want to understand how the rule operates because he didn't want to — frankly, as he said to me: 'I don't want to play in this championship if I should have been disqualified,'" said Mike Davis, the USGA's chief executive.

"That's where we clarified that, 'Phil, you actually made a stroke at a moving ball, and so we have to apply that rule.'

"That's different than if he had deliberately just stopped the ball or whacked it in another direction or something like that. So it's just, it's us applying the rules."

Davis said Mickelson wanted information "because he said, 'I've been hearing stuff in the media that maybe it's a disqualification.' I said, 'Phil, that's simply not the case.'

"I'm not going to speak for Phil, but it seemed he was very appreciative of that and said, 'Listen, it would be helpful if the USGA clarified that just to make sure everybody understands how that rule operates.'"

Whether he ever wins a US Open — and that prospect is increasingly bleak at age 48 — Mickelson will be remembered for what happened on the 13th green.

Call it the Mickelson Meltdown.

"Sometimes it gets a little goofy, sure," he said, "but it's all within the rules."

Mickelson's shocking display in the third round stunned playing partner Andrew Johnston, who called it "a moment of madness."