My big mistake Mickelson admits to ‘dumb’ stunt
American admits he was out of order at US Open Hit a par 70 on opening day at Scottish Open
Less than a mile away from the scene of one of his greatest glories, Phil Mickelson finally felt obliged to talk at length about one of his most humbling golfing moments.
When describing what had gone through his mind during his by now notorious US Open “ice hockey” move, Mickelson admitted: “I do a lot of dumb stuff.”
Credit to Mickelson for opening up about the controversy which saw him purposely hit his ball with his putter as it proceeded to roll off the 13th green during the third round at Shinnecock Hills.
In this week’s build-up, the 48-year-old, who lifted the Claret Jug just up the East Lothian road from here at Muirfield in 2013, had declined to talk to reporters. But after reading a piece on the BBC website that accused him of “making himself scarce” to “avoid facing questions about the incident”, Mickelson decided to front up and did so in comical fashion following a so-so opening level-par 70 in the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open, which left him seven strokes off the pace set by compatriot Luke List.
“I am not going to talk about today’s round. However, I am more than happy to talk about what happened at the US Open a month ago,” Mickelson told the waiting throng.
In fairness, Mickelson knew it was a serious matter that needed airing. At Shinnecock, he initially dismissed the outcry declaring that those who were outraged should “toughen up” and claimed it was canny use of the rule book as he knew he would “only” receive a two-shot penalty.
But the very next week, after talk that he should have been disqualified, Mickelson sent a select group of US journalists a short text message, saying “I’m sorry” and that he was “embarrassed and disappointed by my actions”. Other than that, there has been silence, apart from a Golf Channel interview so wet that it was more “milky cuppa” than “mea culpa”. This, however, was the real thing.
“I’ve had a rough month,” Mickelson said. “I made a big mistake and I wish I could take it back but I can’t. There’s not much I can do about it now other than just try to act a little better.
“The backlash is my own fault. You have to be accountable for yourself. I do a lot of dumb stuff, right. I have these moments where I’m like in a cloud, if you will, I’m not really sure what I’m doing or I’m just kind of going through the motions and not really aware at the moment, and I’ve done that a bunch in my career.”
Many believed that Mickelson’s behaviour at the US Open was intended as a protest against the USGA’S course set-up on the Saturday, which was criticised. Mickelson would not confirm or deny that.
“There was just a bunch of stuff. Not only was I not great on the course, I was not great after the round, either. So it was just not a great day, and it was my birthday. So I tend to do dumb stuff on my birthday, too.
“I was pretty angry. The way I show anger is not the accepted way of, you know, throwing clubs and berating the fans and marshals. I tend to be a little more passive-aggressive.”
Mickelson is drawing the line and wants everyone else to before he tries next week to win his first major in five years. He played Carnoustie on Wednesday and was thrilled. “I think it will be one of the best Opens,” he said.
Meanwhile, there was a tournament going on here, with Rickie Fowler and Lee Westwood in a group on second on six under – along with Midlander Robert Rock.
Londoner Matthew Southgate is one further back on five under and revealed that during his morning round there were “one or two” Scottish shouts of “nice shot, Gareth”. Mickelson was just relieved nobody was yelling at him.