Phil’s the nutter with the putter!

PHIL MICKELSON lost the plot in an astonishing moment of madness at the US Open.

The veteran stunned viewers when he skipped across the 13th green to chase a missed putt then casually knocked it back towards the hole – while the ball was still moving.

That offence cops an automatic two-shot penalty, but there were calls for Mickelson to be disqualified for deliberately breaching the rules.

The sight of an experienced multiple Major winner messing about on one of the biggest stages in the game shocked his peers including his English playing partner Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston.

Observers suspect Mickelson’s antics were a childish protest against the USGA over the tough set-up of Shinnecock Hills punishing greens.

But that didn’t cut any ice on a day when plenty of other players shot low scores, while the frustration for Phil proved too much.

For so long a fans’ favourite in the New York area, this incident will damage his reputation – just as John Daly was slammed when he did a similar thing at the 1999 US Open at Pinehurst.

Commentating for American TV station Fox, Mickelson’s former Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger said:“i’ve never seen anything like that from a world-class player.”

Meanwhile, Jim Furyk fears overconfidence could see America’s Ryder Cup hopes end up in the rough.

The US skipper is worried the Majors dominance of his countrymen will lead to complacency, come September’s clash at Le Golf National in Paris.

All four men’s Majors are in the hands of Americans, in Patrick Reed, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas and this week’s defending US Open champion, Brooks Koepka. And, the Ryder, President’s, Solheim, Walker and Curtis Cups are also in American trophy cabinets.

Furyk said: “By the time we get to September this situation is not going to be the case. If I had to roll the dice, I wouldn’t bet on the next three Majors being won by Americans. I mean, it would be fun and I’ll be pulling for them to win.

“But come September none of that is really going to matter. We’ll have some of our core guys back in the team and coming off two solid years since Hazeltine and the President’s Cup, we’ll try to carry that momentum into Paris.

“But as good as our team looks, the other guys are darned good, too. The European team is really strong, with a good mix of veteran leadership and young guys who are playing good golf.”